Sprawl Schools

Last week's vainglorious announcement by the Albuquerque Public School Board that new school construction is  "going clear to the Rio Puerco"  is followed this week by the announcement of a budget shortfall.  Go figure.

In a transparent attempt to spread around responsibility, they're asking what we think.   

Like perhaps, don't build schools if you can't afford to run the ones you've already got.   From KOB

The Albuquerque Public School system is asking for public input into how the district can overcome a forecast $20 million budget shortfall.  The problem: The district'€™s growth in construction spending has overrun the district's growth in enrollment.  Five new schools will be opening in the 2008-2009 school year and each new school will add operating costs ranging from staffing and maintenance to utilities.

New school construction on raw land at the leading edge of the sprawl line is trumpeted as completely necessary to keep up with growth.  How to pay for staffing and operating them? ::sound of crickets::

APS construction responds to the sprawl industry's constant demand for supporting public infrastructure of all kinds.   Without these, their subdivisions (and dreams of big profits) are too far away.   

That little weanie building fee that APS bragged about "negotiating" with home builders a couple years ago was a token contribution in exchange for the much much bigger promise to build.  It doesn't come close to fair coverage of capital costs and, obviously, contributes nothing to staffing and operating the schools clear to the Rio Puerco.