Long Term Debt Committee

Request

Long Term Debt Committee Request

In 2005, The New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Report urged Waltham Public Schools (WPS) to develop and implement a long range plan to address future program, staffing, facility and technology needs as well as capital improvements. In addition, the NEASC Report urged WPS to update the WHS science labs, specialty classrooms, as well as boost its vocational education program and handicapped accessibility or risk losing accreditation during the next review in 2015/16.

Has a long range plan been developed to address future program, staffing, facility and technology needs as well as capital improvements? If not when? If so, can we receive a copy?

In the 2007 NEASC two year progress report the Waltham Public Schools informed NEASC that once the elementary schools were competed in January of 2009 the renovation or new construction to address science labs would be included in the next fiscal budget as a top priority.

Why hasn’t capital improvements been funded in any Capital Improvement Budget for the Science Labs and when will they be?

If you are counting on MSBA funding in the next SOI process when would that money be available and when would capital improvements to the WHS be completed?

In 2006, the City Council approved $150,000 for a Feasibility Study. As of 12/15/13 this money has not been spent. Why?

During a Feasibility Study Process it is customary to conduct community meetings. Have any been scheduled? If not, when?

It is the city’s responsibility to know expected costs. How much will the WHS renovations cost?

How is the City Council supposed to make knowledgable decisions on Capital needs throughout the city (i.e. Police Station…etc) if it has no information on looming Capital Budget requests?

Your 2015 CIP cites over $1.5 million for equipment, computer’s and technology. When will the funding request for these items and the other 2015 CIP needs be submitted to the City Council?