Letter: ’Had to make’? Hardly
Editor, Daily News:
I served on the Blue Ribbon Committee reviewing school district finances and operations issues.
Your article on Collier County Public Schools’ privatization of custodial services states it was “a decision the board had to make.” I beg to differ with you.
Among many issues that were not vetted were a so-called Purchased Services account that ballooned from $4 million to $12 million in three years — courtesy busing (largely for the articulate wealthy) that could be trimmed by at least $250,000; so-called white fleet vehicle cutbacks, many driven by commuting administrators using taxpayer-paid gasoline; elimination of top administrator perquisites like paid health insurance for spouses, et al.; and elimination of most conference and travel expenses. Theese are but a few, quite aside from the often-cited and feasible and flexible reserve fund use and health-coverage issues.
Cognizant of important public policy issues at hand, an intelligent administration and board would have thought long and hard about a well-advised gesture of saving 250 positions held overwhelmingly by minority persons that might have inspired a cheering public to vote favorably for the November referendum and its salvation of operations funds.
At this juncture, I do not see that happening with a public angry and frustrated by a controlling, coddled, astonishingly overpaid, isolated and utterly indifferent administration, not to overlook a dysfunctional board, sowing the ground for many more difficulties for the school district to come in the future.
Collier County deserves much better. Where are the tar and feathers when you really need them?
Dr. J.A.V.F., Naples
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To Dr. J.A.V.F. in Naples --
I think you are a very big doo-doo head.
Signed,
Denni$ Thomp$on
Doctorite in Ed Psych
$UPERDUPER$TUPIDINTENDENT
