The EYE previously reported that Moody Elementary School's playscape has been deemed unsafe and that it will be removed during the February School vacation (read article here). There also seemed to be some uncertainty as to whether or not funds were available to replace said playscape.
This EYE reporter has since confirmed the following:
1. There is currently $63,750 in Account 548 (this is the only account that the Board of Ed has complete control over, and a board vote is required to spend funds from this account).
2. The Moody Playscape Replacement is estimated at $91,700.
3. A Miracle Recreation Grant is available for $22,350.
4. If Moody's PTA can raise $5,000, the cost to the Board of Ed will be $64,350.
5. Ken Jackson, Director of Facilities, has recommended that the Board of Ed pay for the playscape replacement: "It would be my recommendation that the balance of the Capital Reserve/Preventive Maint. account be used to fund the playscape replacement assuming no emergencies occur that we would need to use the Capital funds to address."
When asked about the possibility of the BOE actually funding this project, board member Corinne Gill commented that "no board member will commit now to paying for this project since we don't know what will happen between now and the end of the year." Gill also added that it wasn't an unreasonable expectation for Moody's PTA to think it was first in line for those funds at the end of the year if there are no emergencies.
6 comments:
Middletown schools are struggling right now with paper shortages and this is a focus on discretionary funds? Focus should be on teaching our children and ensuring that they have the proper tools to learn....not fun and games--what happened to jump ropes and playground balls. It's more of a shame that parents are sending in reams of paper with the children so teachers can do their jobs and teach. If the schools have these discretionary funds they should use these monies appropriately.
As I understand it, the Capital and Maint. Fund is for major expenses like carpet replacement, windows, etc...basically infrastructure that needs upkeep and replacement. It wouldn't be proper to pay for paper out of this fund.
I will ask some questions about the paper shortages and post what I find. Thanks for bringing this concern to our attention.
what is safe and what is unsafe? So far in both EYE articles it is yet to be explained why the playground is called unsafe. upgrades need to be planned carefully. EPA is investigating the use of recycled tire rubber as playground surfacing as it poses a potential health risk to children. Many playgrounds had this type of surface installed as "safety upgrade" to provide a soft surface. However, it can be a source of worse problems. Documentation: http://www.peer.org/docs/epa/09_1_6_epa_tire_warnings.pdf
It is ALWAYS the same with the Board of Education budgets. They cry poverty, don't cut the children, they will suffer, boo hoo boo hoo, and yet we see thousands and thousands of dollars in other lines which no one has any idea was there. Yet they claim the children have no paper to learn, and parents have to reach deeply. Come on folks, demand accountability from these folks! And do not talk to me about children, I have three in the system and see the game playing with their budgets. Pay attention folks!
The safety of a playground is dictated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is here that you will find all of the guidelines to playground safety. Additionally, the American Society for Testing & Materials provides regulatory standards for playground safety. When a playground like Moody's becomes too old to the point that it can no longer be retrofitted to conform with today's safety standards, that is what makes it no longer safe for children to play. The BOE should be commended for their efforts to keep safe playgrounds. If the Moody PTA has funding that will help to replace the playscape, then they should make a contribution. That's how it usually works in most school systems. Nothing wrong with partnering together for a common cause.
Maybe the BOE should hire another consulting firm to evaluate the playgrounds at all the schools...LOL
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