We Didn't Get Our Track or Turf Again

So this week was election week- always an exciting week for me. Although the PTA will not allow me to get too political, you know, I was bitten by the bug and wanting to get more and more involved with making a difference.

The results were heartbreaking again. We did not get the 60% majority that we needed to build our track and turf field at our new high school. We had the majority but not enough- it lost by 314 votes! UGH! The saddest part of all is that if we had done it now, we would have qualified for $800,000 in state funding to complete the project and it would not have affected our taxes.

The message was loud and clear- people voted angry. They are angry at the school board for not changing the school colors (I know how ridiculous) but more importantly they are angry about our recession and the state of the country right now so they voted no on everything- people are living in fear. I am scared too but I always try to focus on the positive and look at the big picture. This project would only have benefited our kids with no tax impact to us- it was a no brainer.

Good news is, we got Jeff and Ed on the school board and I believe they can help the other board members get some important projects completed over the next few years LIKE the track and turf field, a new middle school, public kindergarten and several building improvements.

I am heading up PR for the High School Boosters now and we are having a blast. That group will be key in driving athletic initiatives in town so stay tuned for positive updates! Visit our website at www.windhamjaguars.org

I am posting the election results below (school side only) BUT I need to give props to my girl Nickie Merrill who won the Town Clerk race by a landslide!!!! It is her time to shine

Let's hear it for the youth of Windham!!



OFFICIAL RESULTS

ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION

WINDHAM, NEW HAMPSHIRE

MARCH 10, 2009



SCHOOL BOARD

JEFF BOSTIC - 1453

BARBARA A. COISH - 1162

RICHARD J. FORDE - 944

ED GALLAGHER - 1587



SCHOOL DISTRICT CLERK

MARY ANN HORAJ - 2193



SCHOOL TREASURER

MAURA K. PENNISI - 2127



SCHOOL DISTRICT MODERATOR

ELIZABETH A. DUNN - 2206



Article 2

Shall the Windham School District vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $2,658,942 (gross budget) for the construction of a track and athletic field at Windham High School with FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND Dollars ($500,000) of that amount to come from the June 30, 2009 unreserved fund balance derived from the interest earned on the investment of bond proceeds and authorize the issuance of not more than tWO Million ONE Hundred Fifty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Forty-Two Dollars ($2,158,942) of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA Ch. 33) and authorize the School Board to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and determine a rate of interest thereon, and further raise and appropriate the additional sum of $62,699 for the first year’s interest payment on the bond and authorize the School Board to apply for, accept and expend federal, state or local grants or funds for the support of this project and to take any other action necessary to carry out this vote?

(Money has been allocated in the CIP and

Recommended by Windham School Board 5 - 0)

(3/5 majority vote required)

YES - 1654 NO - 1538 ARTICLE FAILS



Article 3

Shall the Windham School District raise and appropriate up to ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) to be placed in the School Buildings and Grounds Maintenance Fund, created in 2007, with such amount to be funded from the June 30 unreserved fund balance available for transfer on July 1, 2009. This article will not raise taxes.

(Recommended by Windham School Board 5 - 0)

The Windham School Board intends to cap the total dollar amount at $200,000.00 and replenish in ensuing years as needed.

YES - 2045 NO - 1094 ARTICLE PASSES



Article 4

Shall the Windham School District raise and appropriate the sum EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($800,000) for architect and engineering fees for completing a building study for meeting the future needs of Windham students.

YES - 791 NO - 2306 ARTICLE FAILS



Article 5

Shall the Windham School District vote to authorize the School Board to accept an expendable trust fund for the support of Windham Schools under the provisions of RSA 198:20-c, VI?

YES - 1735 NO - 1178 ARTICLE PASSES



Article 6

Shall the school district accept the recommendation of the Planning Committee, established under provisions of RSA 194-C, not to withdraw from School Administrative Unit 28?

YES - 1821 NO - 976 ARTICLE PASSES



Article 7

Shall the Windham School District raise and appropriate as an operating budget, not including appropriations by special warrant articles and other appropriations voted separately, the amounts set forth on the budget posted with the warrant or as amended by vote of the first session, for the purposes set forth therein, totaling $40,446,693? Should this article be defeated, the default budget shall be $39,790,271 which is the same as last year, with certain adjustments required by previous action of the Windham School District or by law; or the governing body may hold one special meeting, in accordance with RSA 40:13, X and XVI, to take up the issue of a revised operating budget only.*

YES - 1438 NO - 1596 ARTICLE FAILS