Fox C-6 School District: Is Spending $3.3 Million on Sports Stadiums Appropriate?

After reading the news in a recent Patch article by Denise Bertacchi, which stated that the Fox C-6 School District has plans to spend $3.3 million on a sports stadium, it seemed that some questions need to be asked of the public school district officials, which includes but is not limited to Dianne Brown, and the elected school board members. 

1) Do you think that a $3.3 million sports stadium is appropriate for your district?  Looking at the demographics, the joblessness, the depressed economy and so forth, is the $3.3 million best invested in a pretty-to-look-at sports arena?

2) Have all schools in the Fox C-6 School District ceased systemically practicing separate schedules for students with disabilities? You may recall that one of the reasons given for the practice of the separate schedules was that the district could not afford to provide enough "special ed buses." This was but one of many attempts by district officials to justify the systemic early dismissal of students with disabilities to International Coalition for Autism and All Abilities (ICAA) advocates, as well as education officials.

3)  Have district schools been provided enough copy/printing paper? For several school years in a row, parents were told that some school notes and handouts weren't coming home due to a "paper shortage" at the schools.

4) Do students still have to share books, or rely on books that are falling apart, or are outdated?

5) Have all schools been meeting federal and state standards academically and otherwise?

6) Have all schools been in compliance of all federal and state laws?

7) Have all students who need assistance with school mandated supplies (like specific planners for different grades) been able to access such assistance? Some schools were unable to supply these planners for students, and budget cuts were cited as the reason in the recent past.

8) Have all schools in need of paraprofessionals been able to hire them? Many schools have been in need, but have been told they cannot afford the additional staff.

9) How will a $3.3 million-bill for a more attractive sports stadium solve all these problems in the district?

10) Is the school district still considering cuts to programs and staff, such as various supports or programs for students?

11) How are the taxpayers in the community going to be affected? Will they benefit more from the better looking sports stadium than they will adequate books and appropriate learning tools for all students?

12) How will this decision affect teachers and the overall school community?

It would be appropriate (and much appreciated) for the Fox C-6 School District officials to answer these questions.

Perhaps the decision-making officials in the district believe the $3.3 million decision is appropriate. After all, there has been very little (public) protest of the superintendent's annual salary, which is reported to be nearly a quarter of a million dollars (public record).

Do the taxpaying citizens believe $3.3 million should be spent at this time on high school football arenas?