Letters- City should not rezone

Dear Editor,

I have not seen a plan from the Hudson School Board to accommodate the upcoming numbers of pupils who will attend the current high school. What is the plan for the large seventh- and eighth-grade classes who will need high school space before any new building is finished? Those students need space, whether or not a new high school is built.

I hope the board will soon reveal their plans to the voters, as they have had adequate time to be aware of the classes which will be in the high school within one-two years. Those two classes didn't just appear in the district -- they've been here for a number of years.

The three maps which the school district has put forth for building on the dog track property seem to represent plans for glorified athletic facilities/sports complex. It appears that we as a district are planning for statewide athletic tournaments instead of using our tax dollars to educate our students for the expectations of today's world.

I believe that today's methods of education do not rely solely on buildings, but include a variety of resources, i.e. virtual schools, excellent teachers, year-round school, etc. I invite the school board to inform the voters of the potential tax increase for a $200,000 house for a bond in the amount of $90 million dollars, which approximates the bond issued for the New Richmond school. What is the potential cost for the taxpayers for this dog track project?

The city of Hudson has needs for infrastructure replacement/repairs, and increased costs in daily operations. The city council has the task of representing the taxpayers of the city, not the school district. Rezoning the dog track property ought to be denied. Asking Hudson to give up the potential tax on that property is absurd in light of all the needs the city faces now and in the future. Reducing more city services is not the answer for Hudson taxpayers.

William Bauman, Hudson

Tags: opinion, letters, education