D303 schools didn't fall apart all at once

I have a question for St. Charles District 303: How did we get here?

More specifically, how can you possibly allow buildings to require repairs approaching the cost of a new schools?

A few thoughts come to mind: Mismanagement of ongoing maintenance, lack of accountability, incompetent leadership, inept planning, or all of the above.

Shouldn't building maintenance/upgrades be a fundamental part of the operating budget as opposed to something you revisit every 20 years only to discover you have no funds available? Shouldn't D303 already have a plan, or have I set my expectations far too high?

Was anyone surprised when the engineering firm that stands to benefit the most would show repair costs approaching replacement costs? Similarly, telling parents "there is no plan, you create the plan" is the same as giving them a blank check. You didn't have to be Nostradamus to foretell the outcome ... a staggering $175 million wish list.

A few years ago, the doom and gloom school capacity scenario was the selling threat behind school referendums. As a result of the housing market collapse, the new sales pitch has become "building maintenance." Similar to the government's mortgage bailout, taxpayers will be asked to foot the bill, and highly compensated administrators will retire without repercussion.

Rich Wozlowski

St. Charles