[Speed Gibson,
Tuesday February 5, 2008 at 5:47pm]
Sweating the Small Stuff
Attending the District 281 School Board meeting last night, I heard a couple of residents question the Board's intent to hire a consultant. The purpose is to facilitate developing a longer term vision for the District. The engagement has been penciled in at about $40,000, reallocated from various other funds in the budget.
To the residents present, this is money that could go to restore program cuts or help keep a school open. Not really. Against a total budget of $200 million, this is pocket change, but pocket change that can provide significant benefit.
Here we have a Board willing to admit they don't have all the answers, willing to seek others' inputs, willing to consider new ideas to help improve education in the District. My fellow taxpayers should welcome this and not worry about this small amount of money that I believe will pay dividends many times over.
Don't sweat the small stuff, particularly when it's for a needed and proper purpose.
To the residents present, this is money that could go to restore program cuts or help keep a school open. Not really. Against a total budget of $200 million, this is pocket change, but pocket change that can provide significant benefit.
Here we have a Board willing to admit they don't have all the answers, willing to seek others' inputs, willing to consider new ideas to help improve education in the District. My fellow taxpayers should welcome this and not worry about this small amount of money that I believe will pay dividends many times over.
Don't sweat the small stuff, particularly when it's for a needed and proper purpose.