NA-FC failing to spread word about Resources for Results



The New Albany-Floyd County School Corp. has implemented an online survey for all stakeholders in our community and schools. The survey will be used to create a “Culture of Service,” which implies improving customer service. I ask that the school corporation focus on abolishing their “Culture of Silence,” which impedes improvements to “customer service.”

By a Culture of Silence, I refer to the school corporation’s unwillingness to communicate with their stakeholders on important issues, such as possible school closures and/or redistricting of the entire corporation.

Recently, the Resources for Results committee announced the dates for three upcoming hearings at each of the middle schools in April in The Tribune. These hearings are being held to obtain public input regarding possible closure of Silver Street and/or Pine View Elementary schools and possible redistricting of the entire county. A recommendation will be made to Superintendent Dr. Brooks, who may pass the recommendation for school board approval or pass his own recommendation.

Don’t bother checking the corporation Web site for information on the committee because the information provided is paltry. The Web site barely provides committee review topics and doesn’t match actual meeting notes. A public hearing announcement was made March 18 (two days before Spring Break) with no description as to why the hearings were being held.

In our school’s weekly newsletter, the hearings announcement didn’t mention school closure or redistricting. Most Floyd County parents have no idea what the Resources for Results committee is doing, and without providing this information, parents would be led to believe this is just another committee meeting that has nothing to do with them!

At previous school board meetings, the school board has admitted to being unaware of what is going on with the Resources for Results committee. As our elected officials, they should have first-hand access to all information regarding possible school closure and/or redistricting prior to making a recommendation and not the day the recommendation is brought forth for their vote.

Would you agree that issues involving school closure and/or redistricting are important enough to be advertised and passed to the parents of the 12,000-plus students who attend the corporation’s schools? Why doesn’t the school corporation want people to attend these meetings?

— Norma Condra, New Albany



Reader: Who is in charge of stormwater?



In the March 27, 2009, edition of The Tribune, Utilities Director Brad Kessans stated, “I see us needing a rate increase in the future,” in reference to completing stormwater-improvement projects.

Within the same article, board Chairman Ron Carroll stated, “We don’t have any intentions of raising rates at the current time.”

The current rate was designed based upon a phased-in approach to meeting a five-year master plan conceptualized in 2006, whereby the major capital-improvement projects would be completed and a proactive maintenance plan would be put in place to prevent further infrastructure issues from negatively impacting the storm sewers and drainage conveyances.

My question, Mr. Kessans and Mr. Carroll, is who is in charge of the utility — the board or Mr. Kessans? Also, why is a rate increase deemed necessary when other sources of revenue were investigated by the prior board, such as FEMA grants?

This board took stormwater back in-house to supposedly save money, and now the paid staff director, Brad Kessans, states a rate increase will be necessary. If Mr. Kessans has all the answers, then why is a stormwater board even necessary?

Perhaps it’s time for the city council to restructure the board or, at least, ascertain who is really the spokesperson for the board. Based upon the conflicting statements from Mr. Kessans and Mr. Carroll, I cannot tell.

— Tim Deatrick, New Albany



Cemetery flowers shouldn’t be moved



This is an open letter to everyone who has a loved one in Hillcrest Cemetery in Utica. It is the time of year they are cleaning the grounds to start mowing for the summer.

As we all know, they remove old flowers from the ground and anything else that might be in the way of mowing, which is fine.

I have a problem when they remove new flowers, saddles and anything else that is secured on the stones. I know this happens, because just recently I put new flowers, which were on a saddle, on my dad’s grave. I secured it with fine wire and they removed it, broke the flowers in half, and where the saddle went — only the cleaning crew knows.

My sister also had this done to her dad’s grave. We are not the only ones this has happened to. If you have a loved one in this cemetery, you might want to check on this.

I spoke with several board members and was told they didn’t know who did this. They said they knew they were cleaning up, but didn’t know who all was involved.

I was also told by both members that nothing at all should have been removed from the stones, just removed from the grounds. Both members said they were very sorry this happened and they would check into it and see what they could find out.

I was also told they really don’t know what they can do about this. I really think that they should have the people who were involved in cleaning the grounds apologize to the public for removing and destroying items from the stones.

— Donna Riggle, Jeffersonville