As a taxpayer, I cannot believe what I read in the Sunday, April 25, 2010, edition of the Herald Democrat sports section. The title of the article is "Project aims to keep Bearcat Stadium dry." I'm not upset at trying to keep the stadium dry; I'm incensed about the mismanagement of money being used for this project.
I'd like to remind the readers that we passed a multi-million dollar bond where a very large sum of money was just spent on the stadium, and then to read in the article Coach Kinne's quote: "No one can currently take showers there because the plumbing isn't good." It amazes me that we just had a major renovation of the stadium and "the plumbing isn't good." Shouldn't the infrastructure of the facility (plumbing, wiring, etc.) been the number one times taken care of on the list?
Day after day we are inundated in the media about budget cuts in all areas of the government. I'd sure like for the SISD school board to ensure that someone with a little more savvy is watching over our tax dollars. This mishandling of taxpayer money is absolutely ridiculous, and the person making these sorts of decisions should be "shown the door."
As for the half-million dollar unexpected gift, I don't buy it. Daily attendance is one of the most watched figures in the local school districts. For our district to say they didn't know they were in line for a check like this is unbelievable.
Wouldn't it have been nice if, instead of using this money for plumbing (that should have already been taken care of), we used it for something really important, like keeping our good teachers and attracting more good teachers?
Comments ... 16 found!
SISD IS A JOKE : 5/16/2010
For these parents who say their little angles always behave on the bus and in school. You need to get off your butts and volunteer at a school or to ride on a school bus. You will see then just what is going on in the SISD, as there is NO discipline what so ever. SISD administration does nothing to support the teachers, bus drivers or others with discipline.
SISD has a superintendent who wasn’t even a very good principle at the high school. He hires some incompetent people to be his Assistant Superintendent and some of his Directors. Mr. Reddell does a great job with what he has to work with. He gets NO support from the SISD so call leadership. They, the administration and school board undermines anything Mr. Reddell does as far as discipline for children who miss behave on the buses.
Why is SISD to spend $500K on a football field that is in a flood area and is out dated? They want to spend $500K on a football field and not pay the teachers of our children what they are worth.
BAMA
Arguments : 5/14/2010
One thing that seems consistent throughout all of these discussions is that those who oppose stadium improvements are generally against all things sports. Their arguments are based on feelings rather then reality. KR had a resonable response to Mr. Watson, and not one person has discussed those facts. Wether an improved or new stadium, will benifit the whole community. The marching band, the football team, the soccer team. I think there may be some repressed anger towards football players that needs to be resolved. How come no one brings up the thousands of dollars that are going to be spent on band instruments? I guess it is always easier to tear down then to build up.
no point
FOOTBALL STADIUM : 5/13/2010
I!VE LIVED HERE 25YEARS AND HAD TO STAND AT EVERY GAME I ATTENDED. CHILDREN IN THE BAND. SOAKING WET AT THE GRADUATIONS. WHO EVEN WANTS TO GO THERE. TO STADIUM. I AM ASHAMED OF OUR STADIUM PERIOD.
A GREAT GRANDMOTER
: 5/12/2010
school district should quit letting the good ole band boosters keep all the profits from the concession stands and put that back into the general fund like all the gate tickets. All the ticket sales go into the general fund and pays for all the athletics. Band keeps all the concession profits to do what they wish, don't seem right!
go cats
: 5/12/2010
5 minute half time show? where? those shows go on for 2o-27 minutes and awful music no ones even hear of, it's terrible.
petey
Raibow Man : 5/12/2010
Do you actually think that all the things on your wonderful list are budgeted to the football program? By your thinking there can be no football in the state of Texas because no one can afford it,yet the grand old game seems to be doing quite well. Don't you agree?
Somehow It Works
Parent : 5/12/2010
Let's keep the stadium just like it is and your band kids can stand on the sidelines during bad weather games. Just a quick question what would the band do besides U.I.L. contest if there was not a football season? Sherman has a nice band,but people come to football games to see the football game. Sorry little Johnny is being mistreated,somebody needs to tell those old mean jocks to leave him alone. Matbe you can come up and walk him to class.
Keep Dreaming
Somewhere over the rainbow : 5/12/2010
The coaches, trainers, assistant coaches, groundskeepers, electricians, plumbers, painters, policemen(?), crowd controllers, ticket takers/sellers, principals, superintendents, announcers, and game officials all get paid and/or get some type of compensation for being at the game, or getting the stadium ready for the game.
For the coaches, assistant principals, and custodians it is usually part of their job description for which they are compensated. As for the upper management folks, they know that pressing the flesh helps them to keep their perky little "the schools would just die without me" careers. A little "meet and greet" goes a long way on the road to self serving job security in the world of Bubba. Nontheless, many of these people can be counted on to require taxpayer bucks just to be at the games. Otherwise, they would be home watching re-runs of Matlock on the "I should have retired last year" channel.
Now throw in the cost of paper towels, toilet paper, soap, water, electricity, gas, light bulbs, and other necessities to insure a good time will be had by all.
While we are at it we can rewind back to this time last year and throw in sod, grass seed, football field marker, gasoline, oil, air filters, and anything else that makes grass grow and a field look like a field of dreams. (water, fertilizer, water...).
Let's toss in some equipment like field markers, weedeaters, mowers, tractors and other things that are far to technical for the non-football mind to appreciate, but these items will nevertheless, depreciate. (How about some of those industrial fans or a helicopter to dry the field?)
We're gonna need a ride so only the best bus will have to do. We are not H-Park and we won't be arriving by limo or coach so while we have the credit card out "filler-up", check the oil, kick the tires, and make certain that you have the mandatory liability insurance card. These are all transportation expenses. Did we pay someone to clean, wash, and drive the bus? I forgot??? Did you depreciate the bus in your calculations? Did you include the payment on a 100K+ bus that will be used primarily by football for the first few years.
Healthcare? Better make certain that every player and coach has the right shoes, uniforms, pads, helmets, socks, and unmentionables. Put all of these under healthcare expense if it helps you feel better about Obama or student safety. Faithful player and student Wilber McBennyhill may not have a house to go home to after the game, but he will most certainly have a safe and proper uniform, shoes and lots of ankle tape.
Bus is insured, Got other insurance? What about the employees? students? facilities?
Oh? Uhhh? Where are we going to feed them all? They eat like a bunch of starving Bearcats! McDonalds or Texas Roadhouse on the E.Z. payment plan?
Bearcat stadium might cost ten million dollars to replace:)
Interest wise you might bust 5% with a Jumbo C.D. if you have the 10 million.
All of the above expenses plus the 500 thousand dollar opportunity cost on 10 mil.
A Superintendent at one Texas school recently stated that his coach deserves a 100K+ plus salary because football has brought in 200K per year for the last five years.
200K? Seems football is running a little short here...Could you spot me an extra 500K until payday?
I don't mind you folks thinking that football is the begin all and end all of kiddie sports. But, who are you kidding? The people who think football is profitable have never owned a business or depreciated a cattle trailer.
When you consider the number of basketball games, the fewer number of people working the basketball games for compensation, the smaller utility bills, the smaller coaching salaries, the smaller staff required for clean-up, the lack of a 500 dollar uniform, The boosted attendance of regular playoff teams?
Then maybe basketball is the way to go.
Over the rainbow? Kinne's salary!
Parent : 5/11/2010
Do people buy tickets to see a football game or a 5 minute half time show? Bet some of that money goes into the athletic budget. Have a marching show at the stadium and see what kind of crowd it draws.
You're Kidding right
football pays the bills? : 5/11/2010
I don't see football paying any of the bills in high school sports unless somehow it is paying your personal bills. I think you mean football contributes greatly at a university level, then sure that helps pay the bills. If the Sherman athletics booster club wants to build a multi purpose athletic facility through private contributions then I am sure for that. That would prove that the people support your program. Until then my high school student would like the hallways wider so they could get to their classes. Oh and they would like your Jock Kings to get off their high horse. Band is #1 at Sherman High and don't ever forget that. Look it up on Wikipedia
Parent
Fed Up : 5/11/2010
Obviously you have not been out on fall Friday nights or Saturday afternoons. I don't think tolerate is the right word,most people love the game of football. I think most A.D.s will tell you that football pays the bills for the rest of the sports at their schools,therefore if you get rid of football your school taxes might go up. Maybe you better just tolerate it for a while longer.
Fottball Is KING
WastedTaxpayer Money : 5/10/2010
FOOTBALL is king in Texas schools and as long as we are willing to tolerate it we are paying for the entertainment of a low percentage of the taxpaying public. Let's get rid of it NOW.
FED UP
A Little Here And A Little There : 5/10/2010
This is what is wrong with the situation. All we do is continue to put bandaids on a broken leg. A little bit here and a little bit there is not fixing the situation.The stadium is what it is and all the window dressing isn't fixing the problem. The agenda needs to pushed forward by people that truely want a new complex and let the people of Sherman decide. All the talk on these sites means nothing.
Fish Or Cut Bait
Stadium Upkeep : 5/10/2010
I disagree with Mr. Watson's conclusion that there must be mismanagement of funds. The 2005 bond package allowed for a minimal amount of improvements. Each need is met on a priority basis and at the time, the most important needs were the consession stands and public restrooms. When you have limited funds you do the best that you can with what you have. I would hope that others would also recognize that of the $347,000 price tag, only about 10% is going towards the player's dressing room/shower area. Mr. Watson should also understand that the extra money from the state is money that was not budgeted therefore it is found money. The SISD does a good job in predicting enrollment ,but sometimes a school district will have an unexpected increase or decrease in their students. The state contributes funds to each school district based off of these numbers. So, if a district has a growth in students that district is going to have more money sent to them from the state. Confusing, a little, but not so much that a simple phone call to the SISD office could not explain it. I understand that some might have the opinon that the 2005 bond money should have been spent on the plumbing in the players locker room, but if you can remember how bad the mens and womens restrooms were and if you could only chose one to fix, which one is the more responsible thing to do? I for one am glad that the public restrooms were fixed.
KR
What a dope! : 5/9/2010
first thing out of every ones mouth when they don't like how the money's being spent is "Mis management of money"
none of the 2005 bond funds were to be used for the up grading of the playing surface or to up grade the exisiting dressing areas. the only part of the bond money used was to build new concession and restrooms.
kinne's quoate was way off base on the plumbing. attendace is only projected,, sometimes you gain way more than projected. these are one time fixes, anything else like raises need continued funding. school is a support system for helping young people grow into productive citizens and all extra curricular activities such as band, athletics and all the other things offered help do this beyond the classroom, get your heads out!
bearcat/sisd supporter
Nicely said Hank : 5/8/2010
But what you forgot is that, school is just a life support system for FOOTBALL.
disgusted
LOCAL AND WIRE 
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