Featured image: Dr. Michael Hester, superintendent for the Batesville School District, at last night’s public forum.
The Batesville School District is continuing its efforts to educate the public about its plans for multi-million dollar improvements to increase classroom space and make campuses safer.
At a public forum held last night at the Batesville Community Center, Karen Beller, a community stakeholder supporting improvements, told the group the district is simply in a position where no further cuts can be made.
“I just think it’s important that you understand…it’s not like nothing has been going on and we haven’t been spending our money wisely. We had to spend our money keeping our facilities up because they were our facilities,” Beller said.
After the forum, BSD Superintendent Michael Hester addressed the concern some members of the public have voiced about the plans not being affordable.
“The cost to these plans boils down to what you’re paying now: Can you afford a latte a month to give up for this? Can you afford a movie ticket or a meal, for the upper end, a month? The economic development that this represents for our town also improves the chances for more jobs, or higher-paying jobs — because it’s going to get competitive,” Dr. Hester said.
The district is asking for input from the public through an online survey. (To read the proposed plans and to take the survey, click here.) The district is hoping to present a bond issue to voters early next year.
According to the district’ website, information and an opportunity to take the survey will be available at the following venues:
- Nov. 1 — 5:30 p.m. – Migrant Parent Meeting, West Elementary
- Nov. 15 — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. – An information booth will be at a home basketball game
- Nov. 20 — 7 p.m. – Bethesda Community Center, Bethesda.
Listen to White River Now’s Gary Bridgman’s full interview with Dr. Hester regarding the plans and the survey below.
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