The Española School Board is suffering immobility initiated by ineptitude and inefficient leadership. And now a week after project manager Paul Salas said Alcalde Elementary may be ready in 2012, this week he pushes the occupancy date back to 2013 and now the cost is $17 million. In 2002 it was $4 million.
The problem is the Board can’t get a bond passed. This leads to no state funding and a forced borrowing for repairs to schools such as air conditioners, sewer treatment and playground equipment. The Española school district cannot replace an air conditioner without borrowing money from the state.
In a sad sidenote, the District borrowed money to make some of these repairs and it was supposed to be repaid last week. Of course it can’t repay the money because it can’t pass a bond. It can’t pass a bond because the public doesn’t have confidence in the Board that the money will be spent correctly and in a timely manner.
Velarde principal Roberto Archuleta blames the SUN’s “negative” stories for the Board’s inability to pass a bond. If reporting the many problems on many projects over the last seven years since the 2002 bond passage is negative than, we’re guilty.
We don’t even need to detail the problems associated with Sombrillo Elementary from the bidding process all the way through to no well or septic system at the end of the project. Alcalde Elementary sits idle while the school Board can’t seem to communicate with Rio Arriba County Commissioners regarding the property the County is giving the District. Española Elementary went through so many change orders, engineers and architects the sad story of its completion was almost comical.
When Leonard Valerio was elected to the school Board in 2005 we advised he try to get the Board working together to gain voters’ confidence. This is done by moving projects forward competently, efficiently, within budget and deadline and without political blow-back. Valerio can’t be blamed, but instead the Board has become mired in the same political back-biting voters slapped them for in the failed 2005 bond election. It seems no one has gotten the message.
It’s easier to blame the press for coverage than correcting the action so there is nothing bad for the press to report. Erect a building, without a funky bid process, on time, within budget and we’ll write about it too. Spend a state loan correctly, within deadline and pay it back without the state hounding you for money and we’ll write about that.
Perhaps the Board will get the message by voters replacing all the people up for election or re-election next February. Joe Romero thinks his seat is secure, citing statistics about incumbency and presidency. You might try doing the job for which you were elected, Joe. That goes farther toward protecting your back.
The Board owes it to the voters to get this bond passed and it can only do it by showing voters it can accept the responsibility.