School board had tough decision on sports complex issue
To the Editor,
I’d like to thank the members of the Tecumseh School Board for their service and time they give and have given to the people in the Tecumseh school district. If you want to give a few examples of a thankless job, this might be near the top. My empathy goes out to Mr. Govro, and for that matter anyone, who has been laid off or lost his or her job in this time of economic uncertainty. I can even respect him wanting to take some sort of action. But having said that, the fact remains the school board was between a rock and a hard place when making a decision to move forward with the new sports complex. As we all might remember, the old bleachers were condemned, the old track not usable, and though the old stadium spot and the hill will always have a place in the hearts of most Tecumseh alumni, it was clearly time to cut our losses and move forward. The board, in this case, didn’t have the luxury of a long drawn out debate, and made a decision. That’s exactly what people in leadership roles are expected to do. If you want to accuse the board of playing a shell game with the finances, so be it, we all are playing a little bit of that game right now. In closing, I’m excited, win or lose, about the vision of Jason Mensing and the latest version of the Tecumseh football team running out on the new maintenance-free playing surface with our awesome high school as a backdrop, and sending a message to the young people that even during these tough times we can still forge ahead.
Philip Otter
Tecumseh
Stadium
Well said, Mr. Otter. Very articulate, well-thought out letter. Finally a ray of positive thinking in these distressful times. You're right! An awesome school should have awesome facilities whether it is found in the art, band room or on the football field. Good luck in the next school year!
Mike
Stop your personal attacks already! I work in Clinton and alot of those students from Tecumseh are in Clinton Schools.....directly related to "not being heard" and "not fitting in." My kids graduated years ago and the same situations still exist. My daughter failed her senior year because peer issues were a huge distration. Now at UT in her final year she has a 3.8 GPA. When I went to the admiistration at THS the prevalent attitude was kids will be kids. TPS needs to get with the program. There is more to high school than athletics. The school board didn't listen to our vote and I for one will sign the recall. I'm just glad I don't have kids in TPS anymore.
Lou2
Lou2, I am and will continue to personally attack Mr. Gorvo. He is the only one I have attacked. He's been trying to add gas to the fire with remarks like the one I quoted. There are people on here who have made valid arguments and I will honor their posts. However, posting conspiracy theories is a no-no. I am not angry or lashing out at those who support the recall. I am angry and lashing out at Mr. Gorvo for some of his posts.
As for the complex, can we calculate the lost revenue from having every game away? Can we also figure in the cost parents and others would have to incur to travel to every game away? How about the track meets we can now hold, which will bring people here (who will spend money in the city of Tecumseh)? How about the few extra students we keep here ($7,206 per student)? How about the school pride?
Now, multiple that by every year we don't have an athletic complex. In a few years the athletic complex will be an afterthought.
I agree that sports are not everything. But they are something. I also agree that there are administrators at THS who should not be working around our children.
Hello All!
Mike Bailey, Mr Otter and all of you avatars out there, you have actually come to the heart of the matter... oddly enough. First I want to thank all of you and all of Tecumseh for their absolute and overwhelming support. Now let's get to a few little things that you can hear and verify if you care to when you are gathering the number of signatures that I have all over our wonderful district.
You ask why was it the insurance company that was brought in? Why didn't a State Inspector get to make that call, with load testing and all of the rest of the things that would have shut us all up? I have found the reason and it seems pretty predictable. The stadium was built in 1941, if a State Inspector was brought in and found that there was any actual problem... there would have been State and Federal funding available to restore -- wait for it, a Historical Landmark. The schools would have had very little if any money laid out for such construction. There must be a reason for not bringing in someone who would potetially fund an entire project for you.... but I'll let each of you come to that conclusion for yourselves.
Dave Govro
Dave Govro
Dear Lord Mr. Gorvo
"There must be a reason for not bringing in someone who would potetially fund an entire project for you.... but I'll let each of you come to that conclusion for yourselves. "
My word get off the crazy train. It's not a conspiracy where the school board thought, "Hmmm. How can we lay off Mr. Gorvo. I got it! Let's build a sports complex!" It's not a conspiracy. I guarantee you the board members had plenty of heated arguments between themselves over this whole situation. My guess is they concluded that if the school district didn't try something then we were never going to recover from all the students we were losing. I want to know where those students went. No assumptions, I want the real statistics. There were plenty of other factors as well. They were thinking long-term.
I know many of us disagree on the previous statements. I assure you the board is made up of good people trying to do the best they can. Maybe you think they're wrong, but they are not monsters or evil-doers.
Several years ago when the
Several years ago when the new high school was built, this school board already had their vision on the new sports coplex. They knew the old complex was delapitating quickly. They could have acted then to preserve it but choose to let it go in hopes of the new one. The fact that McAron called in their insurance company for the fatal inspection is revolting. Not the insurance company contacting him.
This is why I am PO'ed about the new complex. They knew for years and betraying the citizens of Tecumseh, they did what they wanted reguardless of what the people wanted.
Now if they want to save money, then take away the trucks that their so called security drives all over and home, no more insurance on that. Restrict all usgae of school property to on the job only usage, no personal usages, cut wages and bennifits at the administrative level and renigotiate McAron and Wrights over paid wages.
Better yet, force McAron out of his contract and hire a more responsable administrator at a cheaper wage.
I AGREE
Thats how I see it also, I wonder if the board had no way to pay for this new stadium how would they have handled the old field ? I dont see them given up that revenue over a saftey issue ! I think they would have patched it up and continued to use it until they had the money. Was it the State Building Inspector that condemed the old field or was it the schools insurance inspector ? Although this battle to not build the new stadium is pointless now that the bleachers and turf both look to be about 80 percent done now .it does matter when it comes to the RECALL !
Judge
It's impossible to give you, Judge, an explanation. Countless people have tried to before to no avale. As I said, my comment did not concern the argument for or against the stadium but rather how these arguments are expressed. His letter was not revolting. Maybe you can consider it wrong, but it is not revolting. That hyperbole does not work.
And no, I'm not a buddy of Mr. Otter. I do not know him. However, I wish I was buddies with him though.
Also, it's not typical for someone to write a defending comment on here. It is ,however, typical for someone to attack a letter like Mr. Otter's then proceed to call other people "buddies" of the original writer.
Save your breathe, too. I didn't write anything in support or against the stadium. I wrote in response to your unnecessary verbage.
Anonymous
O.K. I will RETRACT that verbage and even say Im sorry ! NOW you stop defending this man and the school board and answer the question that Im asking you. Why do you think the Board condemed the stadium after going all season useing it until the last home game ? Was it greed or political I want your opinion ?
Thank you and I will get back to you
Thank you Judge for retracting the verb use. I understand your frustration. I am frustrated as well. I will continue to defend Mr. Otter, however. It was his opinion, and, as far as I know, he does not have a connection to the board. I would hope we could, from both sides, facilitate opinions and discussions. I'd hate for people to be scarred to write a letter to the editor because their opinion may not be the popular one. As long as their letter does not atrociously attack someone, I'd hope none of us would do the same to them in a comment. I scanned some old opinion sections online for the Herald, and it's quite bothersome as to what some people say on here.
As for your question, I called Mrs. Johnson-Berges after hours and left a message. I have spoken to her before on other matters so I'm looking for a quick reply. Yes, I'm going straight to the horses mouth to hear exactly what the board has to say. I'm guessing this is what they'll say: (I tried posting the link but it doesn't let me. Search "Indians Stadium stands condemned")
It was pretty bad. The cement foundation was crumbling, and the wood was rotting. That field should have been replaced/ relocated a long time ago.
As far as the new field, I do believe it will pay itself out in due time. More seating and the ability to host track events and other events at the field will bring in revenue not only to the school but to surrounding businesses. Could graduation be held outside as well? That would be nice if more than seven people could attend a student's ceremony.
Paying for this field is going to hurt, but it could bring a lot of positives in the future. May I put out a question for discussion for both sides: What did you think when Adrian College rebuilt nearly all of its athletic complexes as a way to draw students? Yes, it is a private college and not a public high school (but there is school of choice); however, it worked and more students (of equal caliber) enrolled. Now, Adrian College is looking to revamp its academic buildings in phase two now that they have more students. Does anyone know where ex-THS students are enrolling? Are they moving out of state or are they switching schools? I don't know the answer, but if somebody has some hard facts that would be great.
I hope this facilitates some positive discussion from both sides and from those on the fence.
One more comment to address Mr. Gorvo's comment about the field renovated with state or federal money because it's a historical landmark. In all honesty Mr. Gorvo, doing that would mean using taxpayers' money like we already are doing.
There's a letter to the editor in the Telegram from Mr. Tom Housekeeper that we should revisit. In my personal opinion, moving the complex to the new field carries a lot of potential with it.
Tough Decision?
Ok I can see where you could say that, the useful life of the track and football field was up. But I don’t believe most people view this decision to go ahead with the plans as the bigger problem.
What I do think most people's problems are the fact that they:
1) Knew that there were problems with the stands and did not say anything about it when we voted. Knowing that they could than if voted down say "well the stands can not be used"
2) They had full intention to go ahead with this in any manner, without regard to anyone.
3) With respect to sports Football is thought of as being Number 1.
4) Distrust, many people see the general decisions Mr. Mills makes and Mc Aran makes. As a program director you simply can not give special treatment to only cretin people. This is never a good thing ever. Specially when you history of hiring or decision making shows your not capital of doing things right.
Tough decision sure, but it could have been much easier if they were truthful and open with people. I care greatly about the students in Tecumseh, for six years now I have see their great potential be killed by poor leadership.
NO ONE in this town can argue the FACT that we have very poor leadership and decision making. This is why people are up set and have had enough.
MPN
Mr. Otter
I find your letter revolting and uninformed at best ! The School Board you think so highly of waited until just before the last home game before they pulled the plug and condemed the old field. You can look at this move 2 ways #1. They did it inorder to get as much money as possible before they condemed the field and in doing so they risked the lives of everyone in those stands ! #2. The stands did not need tobe condemed at all and that last game should have been played at the old stadium. If you buy that then you must admit this was a political move that clearly shows this Boards total lack of concern for those they serve. You cant argue these facts and your School Board has no excuse for its actions .
Why write that?
Mr. Otter, good for you. Judge, shame on you. Mr. Otter did not call out anyone or make any assumptions yet he is still criticized. Mr. Otter tries to be a fair citizen, yet he is still criticized. Will people calm down. Yes Judge, we've all heard the same arguments from the anti-stadium group, there's no need to continuously bash people like Mr. Otter, Mr. Wright, or Mr. Vannatter. None of their letters were negative. You may disagree with their logic, but do not call their letters "revolting." If you want people to support your position then stop writing these types of comments. That goes for both sides. It's unnecessary. We're going to disagree. Please save your time and energy and don't bash me next even though I know it's going to happen. God bless.
Anonymous
How typical , you only want to address that I called his letter revolting and want to skip the facts Ive presented. Mr. Otter must be another buddy of yours ? Why dont you give me a explanation for what Ive listed instead of crying foul over my use of a word !