JPS Expansion & Renovation Proposal - the preliminary numbers are even more ridiculous than the concept

 Well, got to see the preliminary numbers that go along with Jerry 'ReferenDumb' Shi, aka Mr. Shi-shed and his band of architects latest vision for addressing the Overcrowding.

Nor for nothing but Mr. Shi-shed had ample time to address the Overcrowding and has failed miserably under his inept leadership. It's not like he didn't have enough time to come up with a plausible, practical and cost efficient plan.

Jingle bells..jingle bells 2021:

Come on now, this is a serious joke. 

Two options - one for a 5-year Lease Purchase and the other a 15-year Bond Referendum - both for $50 million. With all the taxpayer relief money they've been hoarding over years in the Capital Reserve, you can expect the price they're willing to waste will probably will rise to at least $70 million.

You can also expect that they would prefer a Lease Purchase agreement since the Board can approve it themselves and avoid having it go out to the public for a Vote with a Bond Referendum.

Who in their right mind would think that putting that amount of money into one school will solve the Overcrowding problem or even have a major impact on it. This ridiculous piecemeal and overpriced plan will actually make things worse at JPS. It's one dumb idea to even suggest putting all that money in one school.

This Lease Purchase thingie will take forever to complete, relies on unrealistic future increases in state aid to pay for it and only a numbers challenged person would believe that it will be covered in the school budget without major school tax increases down the road. Besides, way Too large a number for a Lease Purchase agreement on anybody's radar. It's one thing to do it for a $5 million project but not for $50 million.

Don't want to bore you too much with the detail reasons why but the preliminary numbers in this plan are as disingenuous as as those proposing it at the last minute. 

Too many assumptions for either option that are only believable if you live in the Land of Mythomania.

Here's the preliminary numbers:

Plain ands simple - this plan is ridiculous and the numbers just highlight it. As is the Mr. Shi-shed way - Too Much of a Financial Burden for Too Little a Solution.

If you want to seriously address the long-time Overcrowding (and you should), then 3 things need to happen.

First, the Board needs to Remove the Inept Leadership of Mr. Shi-shed on January 3rd. Second, a 5-7 year plan needs to be developed that truly addresses all aspects of the Overcrowding and the related costs. Finally, they need to accept that we need a new school and need to do something about it in their plans.

Anyhoo, if the Board has any vision of reality and a tad bit of good sense, they will kick this plan to the curb along with Mr. Shi-shed and lets (at long last) turn the School Board into a functioning one that realistically addresses the Overcrowding for the Betterment of the School District and the People of Edison.