Use taxes for safety & services - not swimming pools!
At this time of economic crisis, why are we building two swimming pools at Lake Mary High School? These pools will cost almost 2 million dollars. The Seminole County Commission is paying 1.2 million. The City of Lake Mary is paying $300,000. The Seminole County School Board and the Lake Mary High School Boosters will pay the rest. In addition to the construction costs, an annual maintenance fee of at least $100,000 will be paid by the School Board.
I'm sure Seminole County citizens are aware our services are currently being cut. The county has laid off 71 employees, our libraries are now closed on Fridays, our parks have reduced hours and other services were trimmed. The City of Lake Mary is also facing cutbacks. Let us hope we will not lose police officers or fire fighters.
The Seminole County School Board is also facing major budget issues. Numerous teachers and staff will no longer have jobs for the 2008/2009 school year. School programs and services are being reduced or eliminated.
With tough times ahead, do we need to spend 2 million dollars on swimming pools right now? The Lake Mary High School swim team currently uses the YMCA pool. The swim team believes this pool is not adequate. The School Board is already paying maintenance fees for the Larry A. Dale Aquatic Center next to Seminole High School. This is located 5.8 miles or 11 minutes from Lake Mary High School. This pool should be shared by both schools.
Now is not the time to spend our tax dollars on luxury pools for Lake Mary High School. The contract is scheduled to be signed on May 27, 2008. Please sign this petition and attend the School Board meeting on May 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm.
At this time of economic crisis, why are we building two swimming pools at Lake Mary High School? These pools will cost almost 2 million dollars. The Seminole County Commission is paying 1.2 million. The City of Lake Mary is paying $300,000. The Seminole County School Board and the Lake Mary High School Boosters will pay the rest. In addition to the construction costs, an annual maintenance fee of at least $100,000 will be paid by the School Board.
I'm sure Seminole County citizens are aware our services are currently being cut. The county has laid off 71 employees, our libraries are now closed on Fridays, our parks have reduced hours and other services were trimmed. The City of Lake Mary is also facing cutbacks. Let us hope we will not lose police officers or fire fighters.
The Seminole County School Board is also facing major budget issues. Numerous teachers and staff will no longer have jobs for the 2008/2009 school year. School programs and services are being reduced or eliminated.
With tough times ahead, do we need to spend 2 million dollars on swimming pools right now? The Lake Mary High School swim team currently uses the YMCA pool. The swim team believes this pool is not adequate. The School Board is already paying maintenance fees for the Larry A. Dale Aquatic Center next to Seminole High School. This is located 5.8 miles or 11 minutes from Lake Mary High School. This pool should be shared by both schools.
Now is not the time to spend our tax dollars on luxury pools for Lake Mary High School. The contract is scheduled to be signed on May 27, 2008. Please sign this petition and attend the School Board meeting on May 27, 2008 at 5:30 pm.
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This is not the best time to approve this swimming pool project. We should leave the things the way they are, it had worked for the students the way it is now, so please hold on to this petition, we need to save our money, economy is not good right now.
While I am not aware of the history that led up to planning for these pools, I would suggest that the expense is one that could likely wait until a more healthy economy emerges. I realize that one must plan ahead for future growth and requirements and that such capital projects can enhance the appeal of the community. However, I think this investment can wait until it is more fully supported.
I do not object to a pool, just not at this time of crisis in so many families.
You have got to be kidding! People first, then the fun things.
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6:46 pm PDT, May 24,
Mary Mangan, Florida
This is an opportunity to set the example for students across Seminole County: an example of FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. |
I agree: This is a luxury. The school needs to raise money for this via workshops and fundraisers.
What a shock. I, unfortunately, am not up-to-date on county budgets, expenditures or allocations. What I do know is common sense, in today's floundering economy, there is most certainly a better use of funds, regardless of where they are coming from and where they are designated to go, other than this pool. I am not against the idea, I am completely against the timing. Our schools need serious help, our community needs to maintain the necessities FIRST. A pool is just not a necessity.
Oviedo H.S. does just fine using the local Parks & Rec pools, Lake Mary should have to make due also in these tough economic times.
Come on ... use your head here ... teachers/public safety or a swimming pool? Especially when they can continue to use the one next door at the Y
we need correct distributions of funds. teachers= education= recreation. weekly bussing to weikiva springs instaed till we take care of teachers- policemen-firemen! DRH
Can't you find a better use for our tax dollars? How about keeping our teachers and filling vacancies at the Sheriff's office?????
Now is not the right time to spend our tax money on swimming pools with teachers being laid off.
What are you all thinking?!?! I'm mean, isn't the sole purpose of a school to teach our children, with quality education & teachers who want to see our kids excel into becoming the future leaders of America? And you want a "bigger pool"...what a shame that we will have to put the pool off for a couple of years in order to not have to fire our teachers. If this goes through, I'm packing my bags and going somewhere where education matters; we have recreational centers for swimming. Where is this heading? Are the children of the future going to stay at home and be taught over the internet...how impersoal is it going to get? When do we, together as a community say, "Enough is enough"?!?!
I vote against building of the pool for Lake Mary High due to the current economic conditions and lay off of teachers in seminole county
I agree, we need to put the money to better use. We need to put the money back into the school system but for things like teachers, educational field trips and other services.
I agree exercise is important, but there are many other ways to do it than this resource depleting money pit idea. Please adhere to smart growth, as the rest of the Nation's tightening it's belt, you should too.
This is obsurd! Why would any decent citizen want to take away a teacher, police or firefighter's job just to give a high school swim team a fancy pool! Let's use our brains people!
