More on the Lancaster ISD bond, and other school board stuff

According to one person at the March 5 Lancaster ISD board meeting: The bond is going to be in six parts. The first will be for one new elementary, moving Lancaster Elementary and then new Pleasant Run and West Main elementaries, plus 30 new classrooms for the high school and additional renovations to other campsues. Cost is more than $70 million. Bond two is $63 million. Bond 3 is $5 million. Bond 4 -$2 million. Bond 5- $665.000 6-$1 million. Total $143 million.

My analysis:

Bond No. 1 sounds about right for current needs. Bond No. 2 probably has a bunch of unneeded stuff. We’ll see about bonds 3-6.

And, shouldn’t Superintendent Larry Lewis worry about being a superintendent and not a real estate analyst?

He reportedly said that foreclosures on home were good for the district because they brought in more kids and lease/purchases produce more kids.

Larry, you’re having trouble getting bonds passed as it is and you want more kids? Idiotic idea No. 1.

Second, lease/purchase types are likely to bring in more children on free or reduced lunch, etc. and otherwise burdening the district. Plus, the likely more rapid turnover burdens truancy staff, and other central administration staff needed to track students.