011597 District shouldn't bond for questionable problems based on questionable input

To the Editor:

Jan. 15 will give us the opportunity to decide the outcome of a $17.8 mil-lion bond referendum.

A large portion of the input to submit this bond was based on a demographer's report covering the years 1996-2006, which projected a 27% increase in enrollment over those years. This is the first year covered by the report and the actual enrollment figures are so far off from the estimates that one must question the estimates of the future years.

The student enrollment for the 1995-96 school year was 3,266. The demographer estimated that this school year's enrollment would be 3,448 students — an increase of 182 students. In fact, the actual enrollment is 3,316 students — an increase of only 50 students. For this first year, you would expect the numbers to be the most accurate, and here we have a 264% error rate!

How can we continue to pursue a building program when the data that the program is based on are so erroneous? Even if you assume that the demographer's figures are correct for the long term, we won't need more space at Bedford Hills until the year 2000. Why build now?

We have time to wait. We have time to make factual, intelligent decisions based on more accurate, actual numbers. Let's take a breather here and wait to see how the enrollment figures look next year.

The school district publications, including Bruce Dennis' letter to the residents, have repeatedly highlighted that a Citizens' Facility Advisory Committee spent 10 months studying the problem, and have assisted the Board of Education in this bond recommendation. What these publications have failed to mention is that the committee recommended the use of a paired school concept rather than building at all. We could use this paired school concept temporarily, just as we could use temporary, portable classrooms until we define the magnitude of the requirements. We have viable options.

A recent Bedford Central School District publication also suggested that we should pass this referendum because the Katonah-Lewisboro School District passed their $444-million fond referendum. What does this have to do with anything? What are their needs? What the publication didn't say is that this same district rejected their fiscal budget and is currently working on an austerity budget. That budget is $10 million less than ours. And they serve almost the same number of students that we do. Hmmmmm!

A community depends on the quality of its school system to attract residents. However, property values are based not only on school systems, but also on tax structures. Throwing money at questionable problems based on questionable input doesn't increase the quality of the school system or the community. We should strive for fiscal responsibility with programs to improve our school's quality. There must be an equitable balance.

I am concerned that "To Bond" may lead to bondage.