Forrest Gump had if right all along, “a fool is, as a fool does!”
School Board Chairman Robert “Luke” Queen and his Rogue Republican sycophants (Rodney Fitch, Ron Humphries, Joel Shores and Greg Taylor), after being properly warned of numerous problems and issues with going ahead with their flawed and ill considered plans to build brand new auditoriums onto 55 plus year old Burns and Crest High Schools, had to go to FULL-STOP on those plans for the simplest of reasons. CCS had already wasted too much money on other things and didn’t have enough cash in hand to even pay for the lowest bid to construct those auditoriums. And, the Commissioners flat turned them down just a couple days prior to the Low Bid acceptance drop-dead date. BAD Planning and BAD Advice all around. Especially by Luke Queen and his secret and illegal wheeling and dealing!!!
This saga actually begins in 1954, when I was in the process of graduating First Grade at the Old Fallston School, with the Brown vs. Board of Education Ruling by the US Supreme Court. Leaving out all the details (for your reading convenience), that ruling was the basis for Burns and Crest High Schools NOT having auditoriums and swimming pools to start with. Now, let’s fast forward to 2016 when the Cleveland County Schools School Board first mentioned putting new auditoriums onto these 50 plus year-old schools.
In 2016, I had already retired from 42 years Engineering experience that included major construction projects specializing in Mechanical and HVAC experience that included designing HVAC for auditoriums. And, for curiosity, I researched recent construction of new auditoriums onto existing American schools. I found a good example of adding a new auditorium to an existing school that had just been completed in the town of Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin for $8 million. WAY less than bid prices for the Auditoriums at Burns and Crest.
Folks, I started an article about 8-10 days ago regarding these Burns and Crest Auditoriums in comparison with the Auditorium built in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin for $8 million. This is what WE could have also had if we, the CCS School Board, had any sense. I have some pictures for you. Two angle shots from inside and a shot from the outside. If the school board had been serious in 2016, this is what they could have had for $8 million each. $16 Million total. This is the article I didn’t get finished before the events of January 21, 2022 proved me 100% right.
Budget for Auditoriums at Burns and Crest WAY-WAY Over!!!
TOO Much Waste elsewhere and NO planning except BAD planning!!!
School Board and Chairman Robert “Luke” Queen fully to blame!!!
Commissioners need to step up and withhold funds!!
Report, project saving research and recommendations by Robert A. Williams
Folks, I received a message from a trusted source that the HVAC broke down at Crest High School yesterday and classroom temperatures plunged to 23 degrees, CCS HVAC Maintenance was short two people due to COVID. The HVAC was finally started, ran for about seven minutes and shut itself down again. I don’t know what happened after that.
I have received other reports that all the HVAC at Shelby, Kings Mountain, Burns and Crest High Schools need to be replaced. Imagine that. Four High Schools with bad HVAC units all at the same time.
Other reports are that both the Burns and Crest gymnasiums have had new HVAC Units installed in recent weeks.
Since I have 42 years of engineering experience with HVAC on big Navy Nuclear Ships (Aircraft Carriers) and Big Nuclear Power plants, I know exactly what the problem at CCS is. Bad Management. Bad Maintenance, Bad Organizational skills. Bad Planning. Wasteful Spending. NO Priorities! AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY. The Cleveland County Commissioners should immediately withhold all county funding to Cleveland County Schools until further notice. And continuing the withholding until CCS gets the message.
NOW, let’s talk, like we’ve got some sense, about Auditoriums at Burns and Crest High Schools. And the positive HVAC impact those Auditoriums would have at the schools and in the community; if common sense is properly applied.
Also note that I have taken the opportunity to study the “Auditorium Question” at Burns and Crest for many years, especially since the subject was brought up by School Board Member Phillip Glover in 2016. Unfortunately for political purposes. Here are some of my findings:
Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center
History
The Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center (PAC) opened its doors in November 2016 with a United States Air Force Starlifter band concert, offered free-of-charge to the public. This beautiful Center is a state-of-the-art, 736-seat nonprofit performance venue built for the artistic and theatrical enrichment of the community members of the Village of Ashwaubenon and surrounding Greater Green Bay area. The PAC actively presents regional, national, and international touring entertainment and also serves as home to school and community musicals, plays, concerts, and theatre programs.
Unique to Ashwaubenon, the facility is funded through the Village and situated on School District property, and its usage is shared nearly 50/50 between the schools and community. The PAC welcomes students, families, greater Green Bay area residents, and performing arts lovers of all ages!