Community Corner

5 Things People Said About the Farmington Public Schools Bond

Residents weigh in before officials vote 6-0 to put two bond questions on the November ballot.

Farmington school board members listened to comments from more than 20 residents Tuesday, before voting to put two bond proposals on the November general election ballot. 

Proposal 1, for safety and security, infrastructure, technology, and classroom and media center remodeling, comes to $154.6 million. Proposal 2 focuses on high school performing arts centers, outdoor athletic field and track resurfacing and a technology refresh, at a cost of $31.6 million.

Here are some of the points people made during the meeting at North Farmington High School, both positive and negative: 

1. Robert Zucker told officials they should move the last two items of proposal 1–technology and remodeling media centers–into proposal 2, which would get proposal 1 closer to $90 million. "I think most people would support that," he said. 

2. Bill Largent, speaking on behalf of Farmington Kids First, "the same group that worked to defeat the August proposal", said that if officials would delay the bond for a year and allow the group to help engage the community, the group would guarantee passage of the bond. 

3. Kelly Goldberg, who supports the proposals, said she's concerned that kids don't always have access to technology at home and can't count on using a library computer. "The idea that it was good enough for me ... so it's good enough for my kids, that's outdated thinking," she said. 

4. Supporting the bond, Jenn Garland said, will free up general fund dollars currently spent on building issues, and that money could be used in the classroom. Supporting the bond is supporting teachers, she said. 

5. Several residents said officials need to "sharpen their pencils" when it comes to the cost of bond projects. Some said they would support a pared down proposal. "I think they want to vote for something," Ed Cleland said of those who oppose the bond, "but I think they want to vote for the right thing." 

What do you think about the Farmington Public Schools bond proposal? Sign in to the site and share your thoughts here: What's the Future of Farmington Public Schools?


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