A Wicked Future

Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Folks, we are some kind of crazy in Jefferson County. Imagine this. We have just completed a building and renovation plan that cost us more than $50 million dollars. Actually, it comes in closer to $60 million when everything is taken into account. Let’s take a look at the numbers. The sixth grade class this school year is big, according to the Jefferson County Department of Education. In fact, it is so big that,if it maintains the current size, it will overwhelm the new Patriot Academy that houses the freshman class for JCHS. And, the good news doesn’t stop there. Across the County, there are other schools that are at a premium of space just waiting on that one too many student that is on the inevitable horizon.

So, you may be asking, how can we be paying a nearly $60 million dollar tab for building programs and still be staring overcrowding in the face? Years ago, before a new elementary school and new freshman academy-before renovations and additions that are still more plan that reality-a group of educators offered a plan that would have addressed the needs, current and future, in Jefferson County. Naturally, we, and by we I mean the majority of our elected officials, ignored our professionals. Our current reality includes law suits and drawings and portables for kitchens. Our future looks like more closets as classrooms and bursting buildings and, ultimately, more debt.

For those that have been watching for several years, nothing that I have said comes as a surprise. For educators, they know the drill and they have a front row seat to our elbow to elbow future. For our funding body and decision makers, enjoy the level tax rate because it appears that something wicked this way comes.

The insanity in which we swaddle ourselves comes more from an absence of reality and something is better than nothing attitude than a true case of the crazies. True crazy I can understand. We just pat it on the head and hide the kitchen knives. But insanity by choice is a rare and potentially deadly state of mind. If the past is any predictor, it may be the death knell to the County coffers and the beginning of a very expensive do over. Yep. Something wicked is definitely coming and we may be helpless to do anything but sign the check.