We attended the contentious Norwin School Board meeting April 14 and were very disappointed in the vote to spend $25 million on a stadium, press box and other enhancements. This extravagance will add more to Norwin’s $100 million debt. How will you/we ever pay that debt back servicing $1 million per month?
Board member Tim Kotch stated that prior school board members told him this item has been kicked down the road in prior years. That’s a typical politician blaming his or her predecessors. The stadium was remodeled with a new press box in the early 2000s. That brick press box should last well over 50 years. Rebuilding it does not add value to students’ education. Nor does an extensive remodeling of the stands. Students play on the field, not in the stands.
The visitors’ stands were rebuilt some 20 years ago, and something similar would be good for the side being condemned. The space underneath should be eliminated. It originally housed locker rooms, which were relocated to a new facility. Replacing it seems worthless with excess storage.
We think the five board members who voted to spend this money are being fiscally irresponsible to the taxpayers. You serve students, and you serve taxpayers. You have now kicked an incredible debt down the road for current and future taxpayers to incur, including current students who might want to live here as homeowners. We hope the voters remember your name in the next election. Where’s your common sense?
John and Mary Russo
North Huntingdon