Issue Position: Rapid Growth of Student Population

Issue Position

While bricks and mortar ARE NOT the measure of our District, our student population has grown tremendously in the past six years. Wise, prudent stewardship of the public trust has served to protect our District and our taxpayers. The economic principle is simple; you rent to satisfy short term needs and purchase to address long term needs. Our student growth is undeniable and dictates that our tax dollars must be spent on permanent structures instead of costly, inefficient temporary buildings.

I believe that the enrollment triggers and the shelf registered bond philosophy employed the last facilities planning committee has worked well in protecting our District from the costs and effects associated with belatedly reacting to the manifested growth in our student population. The reality is that while growth in our student population has slowed it has not stopped. Our District covers approximately 148 square miles with less than19% of the available landmass developed.

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