new bond proposal

[Douglas Rushkoff]

So was anyone at the BOE meeting last week where alternatives to the original proposal were discussed? 

I was guessing that the direction they'd go is the same proposal but with grass. Still, I suppose they could decide that turf is more important than the track, and sacrifice the track expansion to artificial turf issue. 

In oversimplified analysis: 

  In one case, they win back the votes of budget conscious people.

  In the other, they win back the votes of the environmental people. 

[David Skolnik]

Hi Doug -
What would probably have been most helpful in this process would have been to have the video up, ASAP, like the Village does, so that even people who were unable to attend the original meeting would, by now, have the same information.  In fact, at least two regulars, Lisa Litvin and Wendy Naidich were there.

The stated purpose of this meeting was, specifically NOT to discuss, but for the BOE to hear ideas from the community.  A couple of actual alternate concept plans were floated (Norbert Sander and Eva Bouhasirra) but it's not clear how the BOE will incorporate them into the presentation they are proposing for Dec. 4 meeting. 

Synthetic turf has been repeatedly claimed to be 'off-the-table', although some of the public comments leave a lingering suspicion that it might just have been moved to a side table. 

The oft-cited 'exit-poll' came in for some significant challenging (yes, and defending).  Despite the lingering questions, acknowledged by Eileen B, the poll continues to be cited as a credible source of guidance, going forward.   To the extent that this continues to be the case, it would be extremely helpful to have the process reviewed by an unimpeachable source, to validate the data, as well as the effectiveness of the question asked.

Beware oversimplified analyses

David Skolnik

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[Ed Keller]

To anyone on the school board who is on this email thread -- I have seen the PDF of the exit poll results but have not been able to find the exact questions wording or methodology for determining how respondents for the exit poll were selected.  Could the methodology and exact question wording please be provided.  Those are critical determinants to evaluating poll results.  And sound survey research practice calls for providing such information for any publicly released polling results.

Thanks,

Ed Keller

[roger scheiber]

My belief is the Turf is the main issue and they will swing quite a few votes if they go with Grass.  If they just go with renovating the current track and field I think it will pass.   


Roger Scheiber
104 Overlook Rd.
Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706
914 478-5785 H
845 735-2100 W
914 393-2466 C
rogers...@optonline.net

[Wendy Naidich]

Hi Ed,

Here is the actual exit poll so you can see the wording of the questions:  

[Wendy Naidich]

[Douglas Rushkoff]

I'd be interested to hear from people who attended last night's meeting. 

Sounds like BoE is looking at fixing some of the problems at Burke Estate in order to create practice fields, which would in turn reduce the traffic on Reynolds if it stays natural grass. 

But the Burke proposals now directly impact another community of residents. 

I know this group is called Reynolds Field (it should probably be changed to Bond Proposal) but I hope it can remain a place for people discuss and augment the ongoing conversation. Plus, it's an easy place to let a bunch of people know what's going on. 

[Wendy Naidich]

We are hoping that residents from both neighborhoods come to the next Community Workshop on Jan 8 at 7pm in the HS/MS cafeteria to give the board feedback on alternative layouts for the athletic fields.  In addition to outreach by the board, it would be a great help if you could let your friends and neighbors know about this meeting.  People can RSVP on the district homepage (www.hohschools.org).  

Now that artificial turf is completely off the table, we are looking for the best solution to our current lack of field space and track configuration and field overuse.  At the first Community Workshop, we asked people to comment on 4 different possibilities in order to hear pros and cons of the different aspects of each.  You can see the superintendent's presentation and the list of pros and cons on the district homepage (www.hohschools.org).  Since that time, with the help of two architects in the community and the comments we received, we have some other possibilities (which we are still working on) about which we would like feedback.

Wendy

[David Skolnik]

I was about to send off a response to Doug and Wendy, but thought to check, even against any actual expectation, whether the meeting had, as yet, been posted.  To my amazement, it was.  Her is the link:
http://ensemble.lhric.org/app/sites/index.aspx?destinationID=tlHvQalerkiuhe-Fae_iLQ&contentID=pTiQPFb5JkSwLeGwmqBuLw&pageIndex=1&pageSize=10
Otherwise, go to BOE page of website, Meetings and Agendas, and click on 12/18 date.

Nothing to say until I watch.

David S

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[David Skolnik]

Did anyone on this list, besides BOE members, attend last night's forum?  I was unable to do so.
David Skolnik
(914) 231-7565

[Ted Mason]

David,

 

I did not, conflicting board meeting in NYC.

 

Regards, Ted

 

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[roger scheiber]

I did not attend. They show no interest in reducing the $'s in the plan, so I am not interested in participating .  

Roger Scheiber
104 Overlook Rd.
Hastings-On-Hudson, NY 10706
914 478-5785 H
845 735-2100 W
914 393-2466 C
rogers...@optonline.net

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[David Skolnik]

The BOE has indicated that they will be at the Indoor Farmer's market (3/15), and will be displaying 3D models of the field proposals, along with a
presentation of the virtual video tour of said spaces.  Given that these two efforts have cost upwards of $9,000 (of your money), it seems that it might be worth your taking the time to have a look.  It's not clear (at this point) when they will be made otherwise available.

I criticized the Board for such an expenditure at a point where it serves only as a marketing tool, and not, as it might have been, a means of helping a genuine discussion, in an earlier planning phase.  While the result definitely helps in understanding aspects of placement, they do almost nothing to understand what the actual visual impact will be.  The models, as I saw them at last Wednesday's BOE meeting showed no security lights, no announcers booth, no fences, no model people to give some scale to the retaining walls, just for starters, but you should, of course, form you own opinion. 

If you care at all, you should at least make it down to the last public meeting, scheduled for this Wednesday, March 19, at 7:00 at the Village Community Center, not at the High School.

David Skolnik

[Douglas Rushkoff]

I looked at the models and such. Seems like a good way around the plastic turf problem. And the Reynolds part seems pretty much like it is now except more functional and with a real track. 

Lower impact, less of an obvious environmental compromise, and less aggressively pitched in general, which I think was part of the problem in the last round. 

There are two versions. I think the second one works better with the landscape. Looks way more natural to the surroundings and likely drains better. 

Unless I hear compelling reasons to the contrary I believe I will vote for it. 

I do believe the board is acting in good faith here, and I would like to get the building and theater improvements done especially when the state is subsidizing so much. 

Rush...@codecademy.com

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[Ed Keller]

Douglas (or anyone else) -- what is the cost for the Reynolds part of the bond?

Ed

Sent from my iPhone

[Douglas Rushkoff]

Well, Reynolds is not the major site of change, anymore. I am sure they have broken out the Reynolds portion, but the majority of work would be happening at the Burke fields and in the high school building. 

I found this paragraph at http://www.hohschools.org/cms/lib07/NY01913703/Centricity/Domain/4/announcement%20of%20new%20proposal%20.pdf  which is where they explain about the project: 

The maximum cost of the building and track/field work in Proposition One is 

$8,081,147, coming in more than half a million dollars below the cost of the first 

bond referendum. The building work represents just over 50% of the total, at 

$4,053,208, with the work at Reynolds and the Burke Estate making up the 

balance, or $4,027,939. The maximum cost of Proposition Two, the option to tier 

the fields at the Burke Estate, is $569,554.