by cliffweber

 

Construction of a New Middle School

 

This is the whole of the presentation about constructing the New Middle School that I was not able to complete at the Act 34 meeting concerning the building. I think it deals with the true reasons behind the attempt to construct the new middle school.

This is déjà vu.  We have regressed to ten or more years ago, when this same middle school issue was the big item of the day. It seems whenever John Farris is on the school board his main concern is building a new middle school.  I’m aware I was given credit for stopping the school’s being built ten or so years ago.  I am involved now as I was involved then because my whole life has been in the Upper Perkiomen Valley. Unlike John Farris I grew up with the people of the Valley and am well aware of the money people did, and do, not have in this area.  I was mindful these people could not afford the expense of a new middle school.  It seems now, as then, John Farris just doesn’t get it, or just doesn’t care.  There are a vast number of people in this community that are not fortunate like you, John Farris. They can’t afford a home with an in-ground pool and a personal tennis court in their back yard, plus a home in the Carolinas.
Many of the Valley’s everyday working people, or, worse yet, retired individuals with fixed incomes, is not fortunate enough to afford these luxuries let alone a $60,000,000 middle school. I personally know a number of people who will have to sell their homes if a new middle school is built because these citizens cannot afford the tax increase. They don’t have a swimming pool or a tennis court in their back yard, they can’t even imagine a second home in the Carolinas.   I think you will remember the first time you came up with this idea so many years ago; there was a referendum of sorts. The referendum was in the form of an election.  The election at that time overwhelmingly tossed you out of office as well as the other board members supporting the new building.  If you want to be fair to the residents of this district you will provide a referendum on the ballot this spring to learn the true feelings of this school district. Remember you were elected to represent the wishes of all the citizens not just a minority of well heeled individuals in the Valley. If you won’t do a referendum it tells me you are afraid of what the result would be. It is well to remember, you can’t afford a Mercedes if you’re having trouble paying for a Chevy.  It’s time to recognize what we can afford in the Valley.  We are not one of the wealthy districts of this county. John Farris, you made a comment at a recent board meeting and I’m paraphrasing, you stated

“I have one thing to do before I’m satisfied with my efforts in this community, that is building a new middle school”. Again, never mind the extreme burden put on the backs of the citizens of this school district, John, it’s all about your ego. Years ago when you overwhelmingly lost the election for the school board, I knew you were festering from losing the election and facing that your new school building was not going to be built. I remember a letter you wrote to the editor of the local paper aimed at me because you lost the election.  I also was informed at the time, that you had written a second letter, also aimed at me, that was so bitter and an embarrassment to yourself that the paper wouldn’t even print it. I now realize you have been bitter and festering all these years and couldn’t wait to return to the board and continue this ridiculous effort.  I’ve come to realize you are not only short in stature but you are short in mind as well and this community may well suffer from it for years to come. I feel sorry for you; you are such a little man with a little vision which will harm most of the Valley community.