Daniel Zens wrote:
Hi Dave and Jim:
I respect your right to say what you say on your bolgs but you guys need to get out of the house more often and maybe do some excising., or better yet just better researching of information before you make certain statements regarding D2D.
RESPONSE: Well Dan, I am addressing each of your items in turn. It seems that your facts are not so factual, and the economics are of the famed Vodoo variety.
Facts:
1 )Did you know Shorewood HS has not hosted a track meet at our facilities in over 10 years.
RESPONSE: Ok, so why ? This is a meaningless statistic without background.
2) Did you know the athletics field has restricted use by Phy-Ed and sport and rec. because of the very poor conditions, this can be substantiate by PHY-Ed teachers, coaches High School AD.
RESPONSE: Obviously SHS is not maintaining what they have. Why do you think they will maintain something many times more expensive --- if they can't handle dirt and grass seed, sand and clay --- imagine what will happen to very expensive artificial turf.
3) Did you know Shorewood Athletic Fields are rated the #1 worse facility in Southeastern Wisconsin (I don't think this is keeping up with the Jones).
Have you bother to talk with Coaches, Rec.'s Department, Phy-Ed teachers to find out how pitiful the condition of this facility is. Have you bothered to even walk over to the HS for viewing. The Athletic Fields has not been address for serious maintenance in 30 years. What would your house look like if you didn't bother to do maintenance on it for 30 years.
RESPONSE: Rated #1 worse by who ? On what criteria ? Comparing what size schools to ours ? What are those schools spending in relation to academics ? What is their student / teacher ratio ?
3) Girls and Boy SHS Soccer play ALL their HOME games at 76th and GOOD HOPE because of the condition of the field and the field is not regulation size.
RESPONSE: Again, sounds like a maintenance issue !!
4) Shorewood Varsity reserve played only 2 games at home last year because of the condition of the athletic field.
RESPONSE: Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.
5) The Dome will only happen if private Donors ar willing to pay for it, By the way Minneapolis metro proper has over 25 seasonal domes in use that are profitable to operate. Minneapolis even has a light rail system in their Downtown. But they must be quite backward thinkers.
RESPONSE: Hey -- I am all for Light Rail --- let's do it Now ! As for domes in Minneapolis, have you ever been there --- sure gets cold fast ........ and as for "profitable to operate" what does that mean ?
6) FACT I am aware of 5 families @ $10/thousand per subsidize state aid for each student that
= $500/thousand the School board will lose in revenue for the School Those families are deciding other schools because of the condition of our facilities at the HS are in.
RESPONSE: Where did you get your numbers Dan ? Shorewood PAYS a little over $10,000 per student --- we DON'T get $10,000 from the state --- if we did, we would not need any property taxes for our schools.
7) FACT The village donation to the library Vs private dollars was 5 to 1. The Village contribution to Vs. private dollars for D2D is 1 to 5.
RESPONSE: Dan the Library is actually a part of the Village for funding purposes, per state law. The Library itself has no taxing authority. The School District is a taxing body ---- they can and do levy taxes.
8) The school board would probably need to address the deteriorating facility at the HS if this 80% privately funded initiative had not come forward .
RESPONSE: Hmmm, yes I guess that the school district is responsible for their facilities.
9)Try talking with any real-estate broker who works for SHOREWEST, FIRST WEBER , PRUDENTIAL, or COLDWELLL and they will tell you they believe the impact the D2D initiative is going to be significant for getting new families to consider moving to Shorewood. Several have donated to D2D they so believe in it.
RESPONSE: I am a Realtor. I think I have a pretty good handle on what folks who relocate are looking for.
I could go on and on with factual information on " WHY to SUPPORT D2D " and why the village should to match the $600/thousand Donor challenge, but it wouldn't change you mind because you DO NOT want Shorewood to move forward. That's a Fact.
RESPONSE: Actually Dan, I have done a fair share of working for and contributing to Shorewood. I am a past president of the Shorewood Mens Club and voted many times to support projects in Shorewood. Until some recent knee problems, I regularly worked the BBQ, sold pre- BBQ tickets to businesses on Oakland, and delivered the lunches they bought. I have sponsored the entertainment at the BBQ for many years. I am a charter member of the Shorewood Fitness Center, and ser
