What great points:
I'm writing you today out of great concern regarding the BHS situation. The need for a new school, not a repaired one, is becoming more evident with every new piece of information regarding the building on Prices Fork Rd. As repair costs continue to escalate, the folly of putting any more of the taxpayers precious dollars into old BHS is clear. The answer is not in challenging the town building/safety inspector to lower her standards regarding the minimal code requirements for a school which will house 1177 of our children. The answer is not to accuse legitimately concerned parents of being 'bullies' for using the same constitutionally protected, nonviolent methods of free speech and discretionary spending power that liberated this country from segregationist policies and brought about the Civil Rights Amendment. The answer is to provide long overdue, safe, and appropriately sized facilities for our children in Blacksburg and Riner. Mr. Creed's comments questioning the need for a sprinkler system at BHS were astounding. Instead of using this question as an argument to lower Montgomery County's school system to the lowest common denominator, we need to question why it has ever been acceptable to house children in facilities with inadequate fire control/safety systems. Mr. Brown commented on the county's future need to purchase 10 new fire trucks, but is questioning the need for sprinklers in schools!
Blacksburg parents are being portrayed as spoiled, rich folks who simply want a new school for their kids. In fact, the median household income for Blacksburg, Va in 2008 according to city-data.com was $29,264 versus the median income in Virgina of $61,233. Blacksburg parents are perceived as 'complainers', when in fact we have quietly endured a building that was constructed with criminal negligence, the extent of which is just now being uncovered. Montgomery County was the victim of this criminal negligence many years ago. Our innocent children and the faculty and staff of BHS have endured the consequences for over 30 years. The substandard conditions over those years are finally being compiled and presented publicly in testimony before your board. As Montgomery County citizens we all, affluent and poor alike, deserve safe, appropriate facilities for our children's education. We're not asking for a 'Taj Mahal'. We are asking for a facility that will not collapse on the student body, will protect our children at legal standards from emergencies such as fire, and provides disabled students facilities as required by ADA standards.
Please consider the best interest of our entire county, and vote in favor of a new BHS, a new AHS, and a renovated AMS.
Sincerely,
Phyllis Garnett-Deakin
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Letter to Bill Brown, Montgomery County Board of Supervisors
Bill Brown is the former Chief of Police for Blacksburg. He has claimed that his constituents, Blacksburg residents, are overwhelmingly in favor of repairing our death trap of a high school instead of building a new school for about 8% more cost. He is wrong- there is no data to back up his claim. This is my letter to him regarding his false claims.
Dear Mr. Brown,
I am once again on business travel and was not able to attend the joint meeting last night. I am also not able to come to tonight's meeting- I travel regularly to support my three growing businesses at the CRC which your board is doing a great deal to torpedo whenever I am away. I want to express my full support for the slight property tax increase to secure loans and build a new Blacksburg High School and Auburn High School.
I am very disappointed to hear, and hope these reports are incorrect, that you are representing that your constituency is overwhelmingly in favor of repairing the old high school. I simply can't understand how this is true, unless you produce many redacted emails from your constituents and give us access to whatever public opinion polling you have conducted. We certainly have made our polling available to you, which showed a massive majority in favor of new schools. It is bad enough that Mr. Creed seems to think we should fight against installing a proper sprinkler system and HVAC.
And as to intimidation, I would respectfully ask you not to make claims like that in the future. Our democracy requires and should encourage participation. You cannot berate the same people you claimed "did not care" when we don't show up and then turn around and accuse us of intimidating people who disagree with us when we do.
The polling we conducted showed well over 75% of Blacksburg residents supporting a new BHS and AHS. The numbers showing up at meetings represent that majority. I represent the feelings of a majority of business owners in Blacksburg who feel the same. This is a clear case of a constituency crying out to our elected leaders to tax us more so that we may all invest in a healthy county environment that produces the growth of intellectual and manufacturing businesses. I urge you all to vote yes to the increase tonight to support the building projects recommended to you by the school board.
Most Sincerely,
Doug Garnett-Deakin
Dear Mr. Brown,
I am once again on business travel and was not able to attend the joint meeting last night. I am also not able to come to tonight's meeting- I travel regularly to support my three growing businesses at the CRC which your board is doing a great deal to torpedo whenever I am away. I want to express my full support for the slight property tax increase to secure loans and build a new Blacksburg High School and Auburn High School.
I am very disappointed to hear, and hope these reports are incorrect, that you are representing that your constituency is overwhelmingly in favor of repairing the old high school. I simply can't understand how this is true, unless you produce many redacted emails from your constituents and give us access to whatever public opinion polling you have conducted. We certainly have made our polling available to you, which showed a massive majority in favor of new schools. It is bad enough that Mr. Creed seems to think we should fight against installing a proper sprinkler system and HVAC.
And as to intimidation, I would respectfully ask you not to make claims like that in the future. Our democracy requires and should encourage participation. You cannot berate the same people you claimed "did not care" when we don't show up and then turn around and accuse us of intimidating people who disagree with us when we do.
The polling we conducted showed well over 75% of Blacksburg residents supporting a new BHS and AHS. The numbers showing up at meetings represent that majority. I represent the feelings of a majority of business owners in Blacksburg who feel the same. This is a clear case of a constituency crying out to our elected leaders to tax us more so that we may all invest in a healthy county environment that produces the growth of intellectual and manufacturing businesses. I urge you all to vote yes to the increase tonight to support the building projects recommended to you by the school board.
Most Sincerely,
Doug Garnett-Deakin
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