A candidate running for the Area 2 trusteeship for the Rainbow District School Board says a soccer dome is a luxury the board can’t afford.
Richard Eberhardt said in a news release Sept. 24 said the money would be better used renewing existing school infrastructure.
“Every available dollar in the School Condition Improvement fund should go to renewing existing infrastructure,” he said. “Schools in Area 2 alone need over $35 Million in work over the next five years, and that number continues to grow.”
Not only does he think the money could be better spent, but he’s also skeptical it could even be built in the current financial climate, Eberhardt said.
“The proponents need both municipal and provincial backing. With municipal incumbents and candidates alike expressing concern, and a new provincial government in place, those commitments are in doubt,” he says. “It’s a worthy project in a time when funds are flowing, but there are real needs in our existing buildings which must come first.”
The full text of Eberhardt’s news release is below.
SUDBURY - Investing $1.1M in a new shared soccer dome is a luxury the Rainbow District School Board can’t afford, says trustee candidate Richard Eberhardt.
“Every available dollar in the School Condition Improvement fund should go to renewing existing infrastructure,” says Eberhardt. “Schools in Area 2 alone need over $35 Million in work over the next five years, and that number continues to grow.”
Eberhardt, who is committed to reviewing the Board’s participation in the soccer dome project, is skeptical about the project’s viability.
“The proponents need both municipal and provincial backing. With municipal incumbents and candidates alike expressing concern, and a new provincial government in place, those commitments are in doubt,” he says. “It’s a worthy project in a time when funds are flowing, but there are real needs in our existing buildings which must come first.”
Mounting maintenance costs are identified in the Board’s periodic Long-Term Capital Data reports. Capital expenditures needed for the six schools in Area 2 of the board, which includes Levack, Onaping, Dowling, Chelmsford, Azilda and the Donovan areas of Greater Sudbury, have increased by $3M from 2016 to 2018.
Repair estimates include a wide variety of practical improvements from exterior work to plumbing and heating systems. With the cancellation of promised energy retrofit cash from the provincial government, priority should be given to projects which improve operating efficiency and reduce overall costs, Eberhardt says.
“We have a responsibility to maintain community schools, in Area 2 and throughout the Board. Capital investments should be dedicated to keeping schools open,” Eberhardt says.
Estimated 5-year Renewal Needs July 2016 March 2018
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Landsdowne PS 2 139 000 4 023 000
Chelmsford PS 4 475 000 4 597 000
Larchwood PS 3 187 000 2 531 000
Levack PS 4 924 000 7 105 000
MV Moore PS 538 000 380 000
Chelmsford VCDS 17 617 000 17 191 000
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TOTAL 32 880 000 35 827 000
Richard Eberhardt is a candidate for RDSB Trustee in Area 2, including Levack, Onaping, Dowling, Chelmsford, Azilda and the Donovan areas of Greater Sudbury.
Ask him questions by send an email to [email protected], or learn more about him on his website. www.richardeberhardt.ca.
