Mayoral Candidate Boucher Shares Views On School Buildings
Boucher Campaign On: 12:55PM / Wednesday October 12, 2011
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Over the next few weeks, mayoral candidate Ron Boucher will be sharing his position regarding the important issues facing the city on a weekly basis. This week will focus on his position concerning the proposed building of one or two new schools.
"I strongly endorse the neighborhood school concept currently employed in our community. As a parent and grandparent myself, there is a certain level of comfort you feel when sending your child off to school in your own neighborhood. That feeling needs to continue. I do not believe the city is currently in the financial position to fund a new school, or schools, as proposed by the School Committee, chaired by the mayor. Chances are good that the [state School Building Authority] will not pass the two school option and I believe a Debt Exclusion vote would face a similar fate as the Proposition 2.5 override," Boucher said.
"Instead the city should invest money to temporarily fix the current Greylock and Sullivan buildings, to keep our children in neighborhood schools. My plan for the future would be, once the Drury and Brayton debts are paid, to replace one school, and only then if we can absorb the cost in our budget, so a Debt Exclusion vote would not be needed. Finally I would like to add that it is not the building, but rather the teachers and curriculum that make up an excellent school system."
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Finally some issues to talk about and have worthwhile discussions. Ron's views seem ro reflact the majority opinion of the average NA resident, who we know overwhelmingly voted down an over-ride. I think this position will resonate with those on fixed incomes and young families trying to save.
What is the matter with you? I would gladly be taxed double for the greater good. 80 percent of households in this community can afford I bet up to another 1000 or 2000 a year. I trust my money more to the Mayor and his central committees then the average Joe at WallMart. I am all for 2 new schools. To each according to his need, from each according to his ability
Notice how the mayor stole Ron's PR wording from his website.....pretty sure the Ron's PR went up last week.....almost as bad as dick getting the debate questions ahead of time 2 years ago and have the answers on index cards (we all know, review the tapes). Watch for this during the debates.
greater good . What is the problem ? You can pay anything you want. Why are you and the mayor trying to force people to pay what thay can not afford ??? If you trust the mayor with your money than give it to him. Please do not try and tell people who to give money to. The override vote showed that the majority of the voters voted not to trust him. Vote Ron
But every family can afford! If you have a job you can afford it! Do you need to drive that big pickup? I would rather give it to the mayor because he knows better than the average NA resident. Then no one would be left in the cold. A debt exclusion would be fair. Let's the greedy property owners absorb the brunt. If someone has to work a second job so be it. Maybe that nice house is too gib. Vote Alcombright for Fairness!
Anyone who has been attending the school building meetings would know that they anticipated that the new school(s) would not need funding until the debts from Drury and Brayton were paid for. Ron is not saying anything new. The Schoool Bulding, Committee, the School Committee and anyone who attneded the building meetings already know this. Ron is making this sound like this is his own original thought...it isn't.
This "press release" is a case of Ron flip flopping. He was in favor of the 2 school proposal prior to his announcement to run for mayor. If I recall he was also for the prop 2 1/2 override. The last line regarding what makes up a school, was also a quote from someone at one of the public hearings, not Ron. Again, not an original thought.
Neighbor you are not being accurate and this must be said. I believe Ron was in favor if the voters were, I think that was clarified above. He was never for the override I believe. He even wanted to stop Bloom from reading his statement.
If Ron had listened at the building comittee meetings he would have heard that you can not start repairing Greylock and Sullivan because they are not handicap compliant, if you start repairing the buildings you have to make them handicap accesable, thats not a city law it is a federal law
The cities of Pittsfield and North Adams will hold municipal elections for mayor, city council and school committee in 2015
You may vote absentee: if you will be absent from your town or city on election day, have a physical disability that prevents you from voting at the polls or cannot vote at the polls because to religious beliefs.
State Election
