Editor’s Note: A controversy around extra spending on the turf field project at Fairhaven High School has emerged. We will write a story for next week’s issue. Meanwhile, a letter to the editor (page 25) directly criticizes Select Board candidate and sitting School Committee member Stasia Powers for her decisions surrounding this issue. Since next week is the last issue before the specal election on 7/26 (see page 19), we felt it was only fair to give Ms. Powers a chance to address this issue.
Submitted by Stasia Powers
I have been part of the school committee for the past 14 years. During my tenure, we have built credibility through transparency and zero based budgeting, asking only for what we need. We have worked hard to stay within the guidelines of the town’s budgetary needs and play our part in ensuring town wide fiscal responsibility. Even with this conservative approach we have been able to measurably improve the quality of our children’s educational experiences.
The turf field project for Fairhaven High School was approved overwhelmingly by town meeting in October of 2020. The funding approved was $1.2 million with $200,000 coming from the Fairhaven High School trust. Whether you approve of how it happened or not, it was done according to legal process and with support of most of your elected town meeting members, They wanted this for our town and for our kids.
Simply put..
It was important to include some of the alternates. (Bringing the lighting up to code reducing the impact on the neighbors ($400,000), other sports equipment and fencing, wrap for the bleachers and gates to keep the field and its occupants safe).
The extra funds were due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19. We wish we didn’t have them as they were the result of loss; loss of after school clubs, loss of specialist time, loss of togetherness, loss of connection with their school community.
No educational programs were cut to fund this project. Special Ed services remain intact and in fact will be expanded to improve Social/ Emotional Services in the coming year.
These funds are being used to deliver a more complete project, rather than a partial one that could have resulted in potential cost increases.
How remaining budgetary funds are spent is the purview of the school committee and the school department by law, were discussed in open and televised meetings since the winter and were outlined to the town per request in June.
When given the opportunity to discuss the additional expenditures with the school department the Interim Town Administrator did not engage in constructive dialog. In fact, she chose to avoid discussion completely, holding onto the information until it became convenient campaign fodder.
We should move forward with negotiating a Memorandum of Agreement between the town and the school department to be sure a situation like this is avoided in the future. I can assure you the school department is a willing partner.
I am proud of my record of fiscal responsibility, and am the only candidate with a proven record reflecting that. Yes, we as a town have some large spending projects ahead of us but I’m in this race because I know I can handle these challenges, bringing back respectful debates and thoughtful solutions into our highest executive office in town. I look forward to bringing my knowledge and ability to negotiate difficult topics to the Select board.
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Click here to download the entire 7/15/21 issue: 07-15-21 FhvnPride
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