the angry ugly side of article one

Once again the No vote side has done their "best" and used scare tactics, misinformation and name calling to get their side heard. My household received this very angry letter. You can feel the anger rising as you are reading it and I am not talking about you yourself as the reader getting angry at the misinformation, but the actual anger of the writer of this notice.

Starting at the beginning I shall refute their missive.  

"..... snickering and laughter. The "New School at Any Cost" proponents' response when an 88 plus year old World War II veteran expressed concerns about his ability to pay the additional taxes." I wouldn't call it "snickering and laughter" AT the gentleman, but what he was saying about an article that ran in the newspaper. Plus let's not forget that this same gentleman was swearing at those who were for the school while they were at the microphone. Oh, didn't (Newmarket Citizens for Responsible School Solutions)NCFRSS mention that in their rambling? 

It is nice that both sides agree that the teachers are doing a wonderful job considering the building is falling apart all around them.

"Where we differ is on their insistence that we must spend as much as 79 million dollars including bonding costs to solve a problem that could be addressed with as little as half that amount or even less." Love the scare tactics on this point. The ballot is for the amount of $45.1 million- they are adding on the interest which at this point we have no idea how much our rate will be. The best part of the bond? WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY IT ALL AT ONE TIME!! This is over many years. Try not to make it sound like Newmarket has to come up with $79 million overnight for a new school.

I am not sure when the group "Newmarket Solutions" became the "New School at Any Cost" but I am guessing that the No side doesn't want anyone aware that the "Newmarket Solutions" group is around with the correct information and not the misinformation that the No side is flinging around.

"The School Board and Moderator were dismissive of those who didn't agree with them on the financial impact of the warrant article, those who questioned the lack of any alternatives and in general anyone justifiably concerned that the tax hike would drive them out of their homes." This point they are somewhat correct but their view is skewed. The deliberative sessions are NOT the time to come up with alternatives to the warrant article being presented for ballot. That time had come and gone with none of the No side showing up. There are many meetings that these concerned citizens never bothered to attend; only coming out when it is convenient for them and then try to call foul. The discussion on the table at the deliberative session was to change any of the wording on the warrant article. Not to slam the school board or superintendent for due diligence on items you feel they did not pursue. Not to discuss financial impact. Changing of the wording as allowed by law. If you feel as strongly as you do, go to the meetings and let your voice be heard. Don't sit at home on Facebook venting that 'they wouldn't listen to us anyway'. How do you know unless you go? Bring the whole group of citizens looking for responsible solutions. Like I tell my kids, how do you know unless you try? Seems like good advice to the No group.

"We need to renovate our JR/SR high school buildings or facilitate an alternate solution such as "Tuitioning" with a neighboring town. Last year over 70% of Newmarket voters demanded that the School Board and Superintendent arrange a "Tuitioning" agreement. There was, shall we say, a half-hearted effort and a predictably poor result." Renovation of the current facility is not an option that is available to Newmarket. The building cannot be built upwards due to lack of structure support. The building cannot be added onto due to lack of footage on the current site. There are not enough classrooms as it is right now. How do you expect to renovate these small classrooms into larger classrooms with no additions? Let's not forget that pesky asbestos that is in the majority of the 1965 addition that will be exposed with any type of renovation. That is not a cheap fix as this past summers fire and life safety construction showed us. Yes a tuitioning agreement was voted on as our last option before building a new school. Talks were entered into with Oyster River. Meetings and presentations were held in both towns. At the same time Oyster River was also courting other towns to fill their school. Newmarket was not the only game in town for Oyster River and personally I feel Newmarket was used as a way to ensure that Barrington signed the agreement with Oyster River. Barrington's student numbers are well under the 300 Newmarket students on the table. For Oyster River it made them very uncomfortable to push their building capacity to over 90%. Newmarket cannot demand that Oyster River take our students. From this letter and the first, the No vote side is clinging to Oyster River as a viable option. Let it go people. There is a closed door with a do not disturb sign on that option at Oyster River.

The only thing I will say about newspaper editorials is that they are written to sensationalize a situation to sell newspapers or in this case, online subscriptions. 

"When you're casting your vote on March 11th remember that by state law, warrant articles are required to present ONLY the FIRST YEAR cost per thousand and that number has been artificially reduced to $1.75 to hide the big surprise. Shortly after the first year the Newmarket taxpayers' cost per thousand will balloon to a whopping $4.26 per thousand per year for the remainder of the Bond term! The "New School At Any Cost" people are hoping that you won't notice this little "trick". The tax impact being artificially reduced is more misinformation. There was a savings that was left over from the previous years budget which is turned back over to the tax payers resulting in the reduced cost for the coming year. When the same thing happens on the town side, people commend the Town Administrator and Town Council for a job well done. Same thing NCFRSS!!! As for the large tax rate let us look at the numbers IF the Oyster River tuitioning agreement that was on the table HAD gone through. (I am using a letter submitted to the paper by Heather Raab. She received the numbers from Dr. Hayes)

"I would like to point out to Newmarket residents that the tuition agreement we were negotiating with Oyster River would have had a higher tax impact than the proposal for a $45.1 million school. The maximum bond payment for the proposed new building is approximately $2.8 million per year, assuming the competitive bidding process does nothing to lower the cost of the school.

In the year 2015-2016, the tuition to Oyster River would have cost Newmarket $2.2 million in addition to the $1.8 million needed to fix the fire and life safety issues at the middle school. This dollar amount does not include the costs to bus the students to Durham or to operate the current middle school (i.e. heat, electricity, staffing, maintenance, etc.). In the year 2021-2022, just 6 years into the deal, the cost was scheduled to increase to $3.3 million per year for tuition.

Think about this: In 2015-2016 we would have paid $4 million instead of $2.8 million. In 2021 we would have been paying $3.3 million annually, plus the cost to operate the middle school, instead of $2.8 million annually. We would be “renting” a space in Oyster River for more money than owning a building in our own town. If we decided we wanted buy into the Oyster River Cooperative District in 5-7 years, it was estimated that is would have cost us an additional $4-5 million.

Over time, tuition rates will increase due to inflation, while a 25 year bond payment for a new school will remain the same $2.8 million each year for the life of the loan. For those who think we should further explore deals with other towns, I ask you, given all of this information, does it really make sense?

Heather Raab"

As you can see from the above picture of the letter that was received by me, there is no signature or name mentioned as to who makes up the mystery group of "Newmarket Citizens". If you are so against a new school, have the brass balls to sign your name. Do not hide behind a group name that plays off an actual group who has come up with solutions for Newmarket's situation. That is the part of the letter that truly angers me. I will tell the world.... I, Terri Clark Foltz, am 100% behind a brand new Junior/ Senior High School for the town of Newmarket! I am proud to say that and put it on the internet, and have the brass balls to keep it there and not take it down.

A wonderful poster created by a parent! Love the play on the red and blue. Look at all those happy faces in the new building! Makes a parent proud.

NEWMARKET PEEPS! 

VOTE YES ON MARCH 11TH.

so very sad

This letter was in one of the local papers, found this posted online. I am saddened by this letter in many ways. Mostly because once again the No voters have used scare tactics, slandering of the superintendent and misinformation to bring this Newmarket resident to the vote No side.

I am also saddened that this individual has "more than 35 years of professional classroom experience" and cannot see the writing on the wall as to the condition of the school building and all that has been done over the past twenty years and more that this issue has been dividing the town. I also wonder if he has taken a tour of the Junior/ Senior High School because the size of the classrooms alone is a scary factor to come face to face with.

Read on and I will dissect the points after-

Let us start with the statement "that Newmarket dropped the ball when it took steps that leave the town quite alone in dealing with the needs of our students." I am wondering how the entire town of Newmarket did this? Was it failing when there was a Facilities Committee formed years ago to look into all possible options dealing with the Junior/ Senior High School situation? Was it failing when every option that was brought up was looked into thoroughly by the school board and the superintendent (both current and previous)? Or was it the No voters who failed Newmarket's children when cheaper options were presented which included State Aid were voted down?

Speaking to "many long-time residents of the town" and the conclusion reached by all is "that the superintendent of schools failed in his responsibility to press the potential Oyster River resolution to a satisfactory conclusion". There were NUMEROUS meetings between both districts since the previous years deliberative sessions and there were chances for these long-time residents to speak out at these meetings as well as school board meetings yet they did neither of these. The School Board of Oyster River voted NOT to accept our students as it would push their numbers too close to their maximum capacity whereas Barrington's students would not do so, I think that "conclusion" is wishful thinking on the part of the No voters. Get off of the bandwagon that Dr. Hayes did not do everything he could to get our students to Oyster River. There is paperwork to prove that the agreement was signed and ready to go to Oyster River- even if those with "much good sense" do not want to believe it.

We are a "relatively small demographic based" community, yes we are. However our tax rates in previous years were well over $40/ $1000 and that was BEFORE the town approved the building of these three and four bedroom neighborhoods. I don't see anywhere the dire straights that the No voters are speaking of by having an increase in the tax rate at this time. The town allowed those homes to be built to reduce the tax rate. Now these houses have families with children who MUST BE EDUCATED. Time for Newmarket to pay the piper and do what is legal and necessary to uphold their contract when they built those homes. Let's remember that the golf course is also getting ready to be turned into housing which will in turn bring in revenue for Newmarket as well as more families with children who will need an education. It is a vicious circle to invite families into your town yet not have a plan to educate them.

"Ideally, one solution is to return to a possible relationship with Oyster River." Again I say- they refused our students as it would bring their student population to the maximum capacity for the facility which they are not comfortable with. Returning to hound them will not change their minds on accepting our students.  "Ideally" it would be great to hop into the DeLorean and take the state aid from 2006 (and earlier) to build a new school. That isn't happening either.

"An alternative solution must be found for Newmarket in relationship with another high school." ummm.... hello McFly. Been there done that. Exeter voters gave us a resounding NO to accepting our students. Epping as well voted NO to us. We reached out to other towns but they are happy with their current arrangements with their schools of record. How many  more times do you think we can keep asking these towns? How much more waiting do we have to do before we can get a new school built? I'm sure you have heard from those "long- time residents" how much time they have wasted by putting things on the back burner; for example the water treatment plant, the dam,  and the pipe from the well to main street. 

Bernard K. Gordon- if you were truly a part of the Yes vote, you would have all these answers to your questions. All of these items that you point out have been thought of and investigated. Just because the No vote side does not like the outcome of all of these options - meaning Newmarket is on their own in this situation- does not mean we can keep revisiting them. You also have to understand that the No vote is anti- Dr. Hayes at all costs. No matter what he says, they say he is lying. No matter what information is distributed- it is not all there or not the truth. For whatever reason- the No voters will never believe anything from him or the school board. Maybe if they were as vocal at an actual school board meeting as they are on Facebook, they would have all the answers they demand.

Do I want my taxes going up? Heck no. But if they have to go up (and they will as we try to band aid the current school into a working condition) I would much rather have something to show for my money than an old, run down, too small for DOE standards building. The children of this town deserve it. Continuing to do nothing will cost this town much more in the future. How will the No voters feel when the town is bankrupt due to parents suing Newmarket for failure to provide necessary services promised when Newmarket approved those housing developments? I bet they will wish they had voted yes to a new school.

R E S P E C T one another

*** the below post is my opinion only and not the opinion of any other individual and/ or group ***

The following Bitstrips show how respectful the No voters are toward the Yes voters in our town.

 There was an editorial from the Seacoast Media Group in the paper (who are not based in our town or live in our town or have a horse in this race) stating what a bad idea it is for our town to build a school. Sorry. Unless you live here, you do not get a say on what is a good or a bad idea for Newmarket. So why would we give it an ounce of thought as to what they say?? Guess that made the No voters upset.

This one really scares me to no end. Shooting a television? What is next -- supporters on Main Street? People coming out of the polls on March 11th? This Bitstrip is very offensive to me. Almost to the point of feeling bullied by it.

Funny- I feel the same way about your posts.

They are stalking our signs to see where they are in town. I hope this doesn't show guilt over the vandalized signs in town. Maybe they went around and uncovered them in the snow storms as a kind gesture?

This could be flipped around to be "the Yes side is picking on the No side." As this is how they seem to be most of the time- crying foul and slandering our cause. If anything is said that is against what they believe in- they scream "bullying" and "unfair" tactics.

Yes they are popping up. However they are two and three in one location. Like that this one in the Bitstrip is in red which is the Vote Yes colors. Freudian slip much??? 

(and they do not have a group name/ individual name on them which is against an RSA which I do not have handy at the moment)

These Bitstrips were pulled off a No voters Facebook page. (I am not friends with this person- the wall is public) All had comments from other No voters saying how funny they were, how hilarious the author was, and that these comics were so true. I am posting them here to show how grown up and mature these life long residents are towards others who do not share their opinions.

I do not want to be associated with that group in the least. Please join me in voting yes on March 11th. The new school is the only option left.

Opinions are mine as this is my blog and I can post what I want on it.

what the hell is going on in newmarket?

This seems to be the question lately. The new school article on the ballot this March 11th has done something awful to our town. It has split us into two camps. I am very concerned that on March 12th no matter the result, we will not be able to call ourselves a community that cares. Both sides- No voters and Yes voters are so far divided over what is the best for our town, I do not see that gap being bridged. 

I am sad to see life long residents being petty to the point they are telling parents to move to Durham if they want a better education for their children. The No voters are posting misinformation about the bond on the new school -$45.1 million will be the bond amount NOT $79 million. These same residents are bad mouthing other residents who chose to put themselves in the spotlight to fight for a cause they are passionate about. 

Once something is posted in cyber space- it cannot be taken back. Even if it is deleted by you at a later time someone has read it, copied it, and passed it along to others. Think before you post. Remember at the receiving end of your comment is another human being with rights, opinions, and feelings. You may not agree with that human being but belittling them for not thinking like you is plain cruel. 

The latest controversy to befall us? 

The use of the community BANDSTAND which houses our veterans war memorial. The No voters are shocked and dismayed that there are children climbing on the bandstand while the Yes voters (their parents) are trying to educate anyone who is not up to date on our small town issues. They think it is disrespectful of those children to be on the bandstand at all. And how dare the Yes voters choose that spot in the whole town to show their support. If the bandstand was not meant to be climbed on, why are there stairs bringing you to the top?

Let's remember that those men and women in the armed forces died for everyone to have the right to support whatever cause they choose to support. This is a free country with the right to gather. Just because the Yes vote is in direct conflict with your No vote does not make where or how they choose to support their cause disrespectful to those brave service people.

Facts- the Yes group has permission from the police chief to be there. This is a high traffic area in our town and one of the few spots where the sidewalk is actually wide enough to allow pedestrians to pass by while the group is gathered. Especially with the height of the snowbanks recently. The parents were keeping their children safe by having them on the bandstand and out of the flow of traffic. Nothing has been left behind by this group to cause a trash issue or vandalism to any part of the area. In fact, trash in the area has been picked up by the vote Yes supporters while they are there.

Question for those No voters who are so shocked over the use of the bandstand- how is the Yes vote using the bandstand different than bands playing there? Maybe the types of music being played is offensive to service people? Or did the Yes vote beat you to the punch of using the bandstand yourselves?

This is the latest incident of the pettiness that has befallen our town.

I am opting from this point forward to not engage the No voters that are overly vocal to the point of offensiveness. Flap your gums. Pass along your misinformation. I am going to continue to educate as many voters as I come in contact with to the truth of the situation.

The old school needs to go. It has been used to the point it is falling apart. It cannot be saved. And why would we want to save it? So we can remember how divided a community can become over an issue? To see our tax dollars that have been used to band aid the situation for way too many years? It is not a fine piece of architecture that needs to be preserved. It is a school that needs to be put out of its misery before it breaks and kills a student.

VOTE YES FOR A NEW SCHOOL!

dragging the mule to water (UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF POST)

** When I started this post I was angry. Extremely angry. The deliberative session was an emotionally charged event with the warrant article concerning the building of a new Junior/ Senior High School taking over an hour! Yes that was for ONE WARRANT ARTICLE! During this time both sides of the debate got up to speak. All I can say is that small town politics is anything but boring.

The anger I had at the start of this post kept increasing as I was typing which made me very frustrated and angry with myself. I had made a promise once I had left both of the Newmarket tax payers and Newmarket School Solutions Facebook group pages that I would not be sucked back into those types of debates with people who only want to instigate and who spread misinformation as a pastime.

I failed. 

I was once again trying to inform those Newmarket citizens who do not wish to be informed. They are happy with their way of thinking about how the town should handle these large expenses that are rapidly piling up on all of the tax payers. Mostly this consists of WAITING.

Because of that, I am editing my post into a less angry one.

A post I can be happy and comfortable with and try once again to keep my promise to myself. You can drag a Mule to the water, but you cannot make him drink- no matter how thirsty the poor creature is. **

The above picture is a representation of what our new school could look like. I am totally in love with it!! It looks large enough to house the students. No classes being held in the guidance office, music room (except music class), cafeteria or the halls!! It looks like it has windows that are in working order, that will keep the cold out and the warmth in. And look at that parking!! I am totally in love with the parking. Needless to say, parking has never been a big concern around these parts and it is something very valuable at both of the schools.

As you can see, it does not look like the Taj Mahal. It is two stories not three and there is no gym located in the building or an auditorium. The gym as well as the locker and weight rooms will continue to be across the street from the new building. They will be refurbished but the rest of the old school will be gone to make room for parking. (ahhh parking) There will be an assembly hall. This means only 250 of the students can attend an event at one time and the event will have to be put on twice for all the students in the building to see it. Very silly not to have an auditorium in our small town. However, it had to be removed because the 'NO' voters considered it a luxury and unnecessary. Believe me, after sitting on those wooden bleachers for THREE HOURS for the school portion of the deliberative session, I would pay extra in my taxes for an auditorium. 

It came to my attention that there is a new group of Newmarket citizens in town calling themselves, Newmarket Citizens for Responsible School Solutions (NCFRSS). I'm guessing all of us who want the new school should join since we feel a new school is a responsible school solution. Wonder if they would let us participate?

Anywho, they have produced a seven page "information packet" to pass out to Newmarket citizens. I am anxiously awaiting mine to arrive. Within these seven pages are NUMEROUS falsehoods on the school situation. Including many direct slams against both the school board and the superintendent of Newmarket. Where were these citizens during the most recent ballot filing period? I do not see their names running for any of the open positions on the school board so that they can make "responsible school solutions." 

The packet starts with a long and complicated look at the tax increases that are assumed as coming to fruition. I am not going to try to dispute the tax numbers as no one is sure as to what exactly the tax impact will be when we build the new school. There are determining factors that are out of our hands at the moment about interest rates of the bond and how long the bond will be taken out for. I will say that yes property taxes will go up, am I happy about it? Nope not in the least BUT I would rather my taxes go up and I have something to show for it than them going up and having the building closed by the fire marshal at the beginning of the September 2015 school year because once again this town does not look further than tomorrow and their wallets.

Yes I do know we need to do something with our water treatment plant (which has been pushed to the back burner for over ten years) as well as the dam that needs either replacing or removal -both of these projects will increase our taxes (water treatment plant only affecting those with town sewer/ water), neither one for as long as a school bond but don't let those facts get in the way. 

To keep voters from approving the new Junior/ Senior High School construction warrant article, the elementary school is being thrown out as a reason not to spend the money at the other building. The problems at the elementary school include the building being overcrowded and needing maintenance. Yes it is true that it is overcrowded, however it has been since it was built: the kindergarten wing needed to be added shortly after construction was completed, the sixth grade was moved to the Junior/ Senior High because there was not enough room to house those students within the elementary school, there are three portables in the back of the school now for Special Ed and two fifth grade classrooms as there is not enough space within the building. This could have been a simple fix IF the voters had not nickled and dimed the plans to the bare minimums. Insisting that the need for a second story would never be needed so do not construct the building for that possibility. I cannot be the only one who sees that this lack of future planning has hurt Newmarket more than increased taxes could.

I am going to pull a few parts from the NCFRSS packet that I would like to reply to. I hope that every Newmarket resident who is eligible to vote- does their own research on all the issues for both the town and the school side and gets out to the polls on March 11. Vote what YOU feel is best for the town. 

"Only the barest amount of maintenance has been executed over the past several years, ensuring that the school became more and more of a fire and life safety concern and an inadequate environment for our children."

(taken from page 3 of the NCFRSS packet)

The Newmarket Citizens for Responsible School Solutions is correct on this account. But let us look at the real reason this has happened. They are implying that the school board and superintendent are purposely withholding doing maintenance on the building. This is untrue. Monies that SHOULD have gone into maintaining the building had to be cut due to the town's Budget Committee cutting the school's operating budget. The school board had to make the difficult decision to cut the maintenance budget so that teachers and staff would not lose their jobs and affect the quality of education for the students. Again saving money does not always equal the best answer to a situation.

"There is no doubt that Newmarket students would find it more convenient and more comfortable in a local new school."

(taken from page 5 of the NCFRSS packet)

I guess they are saying that they do not care that our students are inconvenienced or uncomfortable in the current building. 

"Take a look at our surrounding communities. No one is building a new school. In fact, those that have in recent years are begging for more students so they can afford to operate efficiently. For example, both Durham and Epping school districts have encountered huge operating costs that have required programs to be cut and staff reduced, and had them look to receive new students from other districts."

(taken from page 5 of the NCFRSS packet)

The two school districts listed have been approached by Newmarkets' school board and superintendent asking for them to take our high school students either as a tuition agreement or as a co-op agreement. Both districts have voted NO to having Newmarket students added to their student population. To keep going out and asking these same school districts because it has been a few years, seems to me to be a large waste of time and money. 

"In conclusion, let's root for our kids, let's provide them with a safe and conducive environment to learn- whether that be here or with one of our neighbors. And let's give them an example of how caring adults can act affordably and responsibly." 

(taken from page 6 of the NCFRSS packet.)

I totally agree with this. We need to provide our students with a safe environment in which to learn. Unfortunately it will not be with any of the neighboring towns. 

Newmarket cannot afford to keep looking at others to solve OUR problems that have been created by being short sighted and unwilling to spend monies at the time, or now. 

"We are facing a self-imposed dilemma as the result of imprudence and negligence over the past several years. But, it's not too late to correct our course and do what's right for our children and their future."

(taken from page 6 of the NCFRSS packet)

YES!! YES!! YES!!

Our school situation is a self-imposed dilemma that is a direct result of the voters being uninformed, misinformed and/ or only voting with the current years budget in their minds. We, as a town, need to make a very difficult decision in order to save our small town, our locally owned businesses, and our families- those with and without children. 

Please vote YES on warrant article #1 for the construction of a new Junior/ Senior High School on March 11, 2014.

*** UPDATE ***

Found that the NCFRSS has a 'website' if that is what you want to call it.

www.ncfrss.com

The only problem is that the only link on the page takes you to a Rick Astley YouTube video. Not sure what that says about this group. updated on February 27, 2014