With the fall referendum election drawing ever closer, the flow of information in regard to the three questions that will appear on the ballot in the November election is growing into a mini-flood.  Information has been sent to district residents by the school administration and the PTSA, and a number of “information sessions” have been scheduled to provide a forum for taxpayers to air their questions and concerns.

 

Just such a session was on the calendar for Tuesday night, a follow-up to a PTSA meeting on Monday at which district administrators appeared to field questions from the populace.

 

Realizing that there was a football playoff game that same evening, and being the “belt and suspenders” style of reporter that he is, called Becker PTSA President Ann Olson just to verify that the meeting was still on.

 

“Oh, yes,” Ann replied, “the meeting will take place as advertised!” One should have smelled a rat when she then stated that she, herself, would not be attending, as the PTSA would be “at the game handing out buttons and materials in support of the referendum”.  Sure.

 

So, as the hour approached, this reporter drove over to the high school and parked near the principal’s office (the meeting was to be held in the new Teaching and Learning Center, the former library).  The lack of other vehicles in the lot raised my suspicions, the number contrasting mightily with the mass of metal taking up every available parking space on the Eppard Field side of the campus.

 

The doors to the school were open, however, and was able to easily walk the few steps to the proposed meeting site.  Hmmmm.  Darkness, no signs, no sounds, no evidence of human activity throughout the building.  Long, freshly waxed hallways led to the old auditorium, (nope), gymnasium, (no joy) and the Performing Arts Center (locked).  Not unlike the experience of the sailors who found the sailing ship Mary Celeste, adrift and mysteriously abandoned at sea with dinner still on the galley table.

 

Contacted the following day, Olson was a big vague about the whole event, though she did say that the Monday meeting at the Primary School had drawn a lively audience that asked a number of detailed questions about the referendum.  The final informational meeting is scheduled for Thurs., Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at BHS.

 

A more detailed examination of the referendum questions will be offered in the Oct. 31 edition of “The Citizen”.  We promise,.  Really.