I just attended a board workshop on Broadway Middle School last night. I try to attend any board function as I plan to be a candidate for the Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District board in the June election. There are a number of issues that bother me that I need to share with you.

The board claimed that there was no “fix” in to recruit board members that favored the purchase of Broadway Middle School. I observed every interview and I was interviewed myself. I can state with certainty that it was made very clear to me in that process that unless one favored the purchase of Broadway Middle School, one stood no chance of being appointed to the board. So, the “fix” was in.

The board told everyone of all of the wonderful things that they planned to do with Broadway Middle School prior to the purchase. At the meeting last night, I learned that they have retained consultants called the Klosh Group to tell them what to do with the building. They also plan to have the Klosh Group recommend more consultants to tell them what to do. Does this sound expensive to you? It is! Where is the money going to come from? Why wasn’t this planning done before the purchase?

The board claimed that they have no plans to come to the taxpayers for more money to make Broadway Middle School usable. Yet all that they can cite are hopes and dreams of getting commercial partners or grants to finance the rehabilitation of the middle school. This fairy tale makes about as much sense as their so-called business plan to justify the loan.

At the meeting, numerous references were made to “staff” efforts to work at the middle school and make it usable. I have to ask, how about caring for the pool that the district was founded to establish? I am a regular pool user and I’m here to tell you that the pool has been in a steady decline for years.

You will all have a choice in the coming election. If you are happy that the board went behind your back and bought the middle school, please vote for the incumbents in the upcoming election. If, on the other hand, you don’t want to pay more taxes for this boondoggle, I suggest that you vote out every incumbent and choose a board that will follow your wishes.

John Huismann

Seaside