There are a few items from the BOE meeting on Oct. 7, that I do not understand. In a memo sent by Dr. Gordon, superintendent of the district, he states that he would be assuming responsibility for day to day construction activities. I thought that was Turner Construction's responsibility. How will Dr. Gordon's involvement force the general contractor to meet construction deadlines? Turner Construction has a responsibility, as do all general contractors and construction management firms to get the subcontractors to meet construction deadlines.

I know that as a general contractor for my clients, if the clients had to step in and take control of the project, that means: 1. my company is not doing its job, and 2. it would be fired immediately.

The other items I don't understand are that the school board knows that additional money is needed to fix the roofs on existing structures and that there are cost overruns already on the existing projects. Why would it begin another battle when it is already fighting three? Salem, Weber and Schreiber are still under construction and the BOE awarded a $6.3 million contract (on a 6-0 vote nonetheless) to place another school under construction? This is impractical and unethical. The board must review what is under construction now before taking on any additional challenges that force upon taxpayers even higher taxes. If the superintendent of the district needs to step in to move the project along - then the board of ed. needs to review the contract obligations of Turner Construction.

And finally, when decisions are not economically sound and elected officials hear the discontent from the taxpayers on how things are financially difficult for them, how can the BOE vote to spend $20,000 (that's 20,000 in taxpayer dollars) on a single table? Perhaps the people of this community need to speak louder.

Frank Scobbo

VP Scobbo Contractors Inc.