Hundreds attended a meeting in October on the Warren County School District.

For nearly 90 days, Superintendent Gary Weber and the administration of the Warren County School District have been dodging questions and right to know inquiries to a number of subjects.

Apparently the less the public knows the better off they shall all be and we’re supposed to take the district’s word at face value.

Two questions have been presented on multiple occasions. Question one was requested addressing the language pertaining to occupancy of Eisenhower. This entire mess was predicated on the presentation by Weber that the QZAB bond would come due immediately if Eisenhower were to be shuddered.

Where is the proof in the proverbial pudding? If this question can be laid to rest, present the information and put it to bed.

The second question was in regards to the sewage and filtration system at Eisenhower. The admin continues to skirt this issue in their FAQ addressing it simply as maintenance instead of a utility.

OK, let’s look at that utility cost and be transparent about it. To operate Ike’s facility requires no fewer than two trained personnel. What’s their salary? Care to address what their annual training certifications cost?

How about the facility itself? That facility requires chemicals. What do those chemicals cost per calendar year?

And since the system requires that the sludge be hauled away, what’s the cost to haul that away? Transparency goes along way with the issues and Weber continues to push them down the pike instead of addressing them head on. Why? And more costly upgrades to that facility are going to be necessary in the direct future.

The school board has been tasked with finding the savings, finding wasteful spending to help direct the district back from the administration’s ominous doomsday prophecy of financial disaster.

Within the last 90 days the Director of Buildings and Grounds has been tasked with doing tours of the various buildings in Warren County School District to members of the school board. It would be a certainty that his assessment of Youngsville High School was not glowing. Anyone who walks through the building would tell you it needs a little more than a paint job. However, the structure itself is solid. Pointing out the cracks in the walls of an older building is pretty easy as is pointing out some water stains on the ceiling tile. Any builder will tell you if the foundation is strong the building is in good shape.

Coincidentally, the same discrepancies can be pointed out at Eisenhower. Cracks in the walls where the new portions of the building meet the old, and after only 10 years. Seeking out a few of the men who actually worked on site when the addition was built, they described the work they performed as “painting a pig.” One described a section of the foundation that had given way when it was unearthed to tie into it. The block work had disintegrated several courses down allowing the steel floor beams to “bounce.” Speaking with Eisenhower alumni, they were not permitted to run in the hallways as early as the early ’80s because of that “bounce.” What’s worse is there are former Eisenhower administrators and teachers in district admin and board positions who are aware of that.

Here’s a solution for the WCSD. Rip the bandage off and do it right once so the issue doesn’t need to be addressed again in 10 years. Eat the QZAB loan and pay it off and shudder Eisenhower.

The savings on shutting down the most expensive building in the district to operate would pay off the loan in short time. The district then split into two attendance areas along the following lines. Miller Hill Rd south from the state line to Jackson Run. Jackson Run to Logan Road. Logan Road to Follett Run. Follett Run to Preston Road. Preston Rd to the River. Rt 62 south to include Grunderville Road. Lenhart Road to Pleasant Drive south to Route 337 and including Watson and Limestone Townships.

Everything west of that line including Starbrick would be moved to the Youngsville Campus, the building renamed to be inclusive to the new students that would find their way there. Call it Brokenstraw Valley or West Warren or something that would infuse some pride in building something brand new. Those on the east of that line would be moved to Warren. This is a decision that could have been made 12 years ago.

Is the district going to drop the ball again? The only other solution is to leave the attendance areas as is. Otherwise you have a 278-square-mile attendance area that is most likely prepared to exact its pound of flesh by seeking other alternative means of education that cost the district a fortune.

David Myers is a Pittsfield resident.