In another extremely low voter turnout for a Liberty area election, Liberty ISD voters rejected the $18.27 million bond election. Liberty Dispatch continues to ask voters who did not vote in this last school bond election to take an active role in determining the near future of our schools. This bond issue deserves a larger voter turnout. It deserves a second chance. In the meantime, go and ask to look at the administration building and ask to look at the high school labs that were built with 1980's technology. We considered Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Lusignolo's recommendations and quietly agreed until two days before the last day of voting. We believe the assessment stating that the upkeep and maintenance to the district’s oldest facilities have fallen behind over the years as past school boards have focused on different priorities is a correct one. We also believe that anyone who has been in the old administration building knows it is a money pit and probably one of the worst administration buildings in East Texas. No more money needs to be wasted on a building that wasn't that great when some of our grandparents went to classes there. But don't take our word for it, seeing is believing.
In an effort to make sure this bond issue was not thought of as some kind of "wish list", Dr. Lusignolo asked a 30-member citizens panel to study the district's facilities for several weeks and this proposal is the result. While resistance to spending taxpayer money in such unusual economic times is understandable, the need for the work the panel lists is still a reality. The poor conditions of those facilities where work was planned will only get worse and more expensive if put off. If we want to look back and second guess past budgets, Liberty Dispatch would say the truly conservative approach to this kind of issue would have been to have budgeted more for maintenance each year and to have stuck with an improvement program. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. We believe conservatives who actually survey the conditions of the schools will see the best thing to do from this point forward is to borrow money at these low rates, get the schools back up to speed and then institute a proactive maintenance program with an untouchable budget that doesn't get lost when optional projects are discussed.
The district’s top administrator is new. She doesn't have a reputation for blowing money, but for a straightforward problem solving approach that is open to the community's suggestions. Unfortunately, she had less than 20 folks show up at the six public meetings and tours to view the facilities. From what we have seen and heard it seems like we are all fortunate to have her here, but just as we should want the children in school in Liberty now to be well equipped for success, we should give this leader the tools to lead the next generation with too.
Finally from a personal note let us say all of our kids are out of school and we will fight to keep taxes low, but this bond issue is a necessity. Don't take anyone's word for it. Go see for yourself. This is not a drive-by issue, but an issue that deserves more attention.
2006 Liberty Dispatch Golden RINO Award Winner Runs for SREC Position
R.I.N.O. - Republican In Name OnlyThe 2006 Liberty Dispatch RINO award winner, Melinda Fredericks is running for Republican Party of Texas, Vice Chair. Fredericks and Lester Ray Wisegerber both won the Golden Rino Award for 2006. Mrs. Fredericks recently lost her bid to retain an appointed position with the SREC.
Tom Mechler is running for Texas Republican Chairman and Fredericks, his Vice Chairman. Fredericks is alleged to be an integral part in the bastardization of the State and Local Republican Party.
In the SREC election, Liberty Dispatch endorses candidates, Mrs. Cathie Adams for Texas Republican Chairperson and Mr. Robin Armstrong for her Vice Chairman.
NEWS: Texas Right to Life PAC Endorses Cathie Adams, Incumbent State Republican Party Chair for Re-Election
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