School Board to Hear Update on Possible High School Sports Complex

Karen LaRiviere January 17, 2013 at 08:11 pm

Our sports facilities are an absolute embarrassment when compared to every school we compete against. The lights went out TWICE this season in the middle of football games. The bleachers look like they will fall down any moment. Sad.

"The Black Panther of Poetry" January 17, 2013 at 08:26 pm

Yeah, what she said!!!!

rob pearson January 18, 2013 at 01:01 pm

Yeah I am sure that's the most important way to spend our school money. What is it with society today where sports win out over the arts? 7 million dollars could be better spent for our schools. Maybe we need upgrades but come on folks. You would rather have your kids playing in a fancy stadium than have them fully prepared for the real world?

Babaloo January 18, 2013 at 01:44 pm

Yes . Yes I would . The sports complex can serve the entire community instead of a select few Rob Pearson. The arts art important . Yet reaches a few. The sports complex can reach thousands of people .

David January 18, 2013 at 01:56 pm

Retaining these great teachers is ahead of tearing up the football stadiums grass to put in fancy turf. Of course they don't know how they'll pay for it. Where will the money come from? Didn't we just upgrade the basketball gym and weight room a few years ago?

Gretchen Filer January 18, 2013 at 01:57 pm

Rob, you are right on. Education is always near the top of the list as a primary problem. This kind of choice to spend "education" funds is why I continue to vote against props and bonds to "improve" education. Before we had to build that huge parking lot for students -- young people who couldn't possibly be expected to walk or bus to school. This time an expensive sports complex. Those making decisions need to make better use of my tax $.

David January 18, 2013 at 02:01 pm

I agree the lights and bleachers are in bad shape. But the turf I've never had a problem with. Enjoy real grass over fake turf.

Gretchen Filer January 18, 2013 at 02:24 pm

The arts only reach "a few" yet the sports complex will reach "thousands." Now there's a sad of priorities.

Babaloo January 18, 2013 at 02:33 pm

You fuks are wonderful. Gretchen's condescending tone really makes the point every so important to make this a sports showcase .
The teachers are very very important. It is important to retain good teachers and provide for the community. But what avenues do we have ? Could the sports complex generate revenue to provide for the schools ? Maybe we should have a surcharge or usage fee that directly went into a pot for teachers salaries . Great idea. Or how about pay for performance . That's a novel Idea. Or how about a usage tax on everything we buy in Benicia . Just like the rax for recycling we pay for our garbage. They recycle items we put in our recycle bins, we pay them to take it away, then they get paid on the recycle . Hmm novel idea. So take your condescending tone an shove it . I will be st the meeting tonight. Come voice your opinion as an adult and an educated person. Your rhetoric and nonsence with your attitude leave at home .

Babaloo January 18, 2013 at 02:35 pm

"Folks" sorry spell correct

Karen LaRiviere January 18, 2013 at 03:34 pm

One of the proposals would have saved thousands of dollars in the long run by putting artificial turf on the field (thus eliminating maintenance and watering costs) and would capture rain water so the water could then be used to water the baseball fields. There are many city and local sports groups who use the complex and it's sad that there can't be a better partnership with the city to come up with some way to make this a community facility. There is no question the teachers and classroom education are a top priority, but for some kids, being able to play sports or participate in band, dance, plays, are the motivators to keep them engaged.

Karen LaRiviere January 18, 2013 at 03:36 pm

Further, most colleges expect incoming students to have participated in some type of extracurricular activity. There are limited activities in this town to keep the teens out of trouble as it is, do we need to take everything away from them?? Besides, after school activities have been shown to reduce crime. If the kids are participating in organized activities, they can't break into your house ;).

Cody Kitaura (Editor) January 18, 2013 at 04:08 pm

Hi everyone, a quick reminder to please keep your discussion civil and avoid personal attacks. I appreciate the constructive comments about this topic.

Joe Feltcher January 18, 2013 at 04:59 pm

Where is JB?

Cody Kitaura (Editor) January 18, 2013 at 05:07 pm

Joe, JB is still with Patch but has moved on to a bigger role producing content for a number of sites in the south bay. I think he's working on writing up a formal announcement to post to the site soon.

leon johnson January 18, 2013 at 11:41 pm

what's ironic is ,anyone that can't see the benefits of a sports complex did not get a good education . Sports is as important to the development of a young mind as math and science . It's actually non arguable but check out the sports facilities at your local neighborhood Catholic school . Also Google the minimum salary for a major league baseball player . Benicia has great parents and great kids, we owe this to them .

Scott Burford January 19, 2013 at 02:06 am

I just checked the BHS website, and the school currently has 18 different sports teams. Only five of these teams might benefit from upgrading the upper field: football, boys soccer, girls soccer, cross country and track and field. That's 13 teams that would not receive any direct benefit from the upgrades. My own son has played soccer and football over the past 4 years and as an observer, I certainly agree that upgrades are sorely needed. But $7MM seems like a really high price. The grass field could be so much better if only it was maintained properly. The stands could be replaced with newer versions for probably low six figures. Half a million dollars in thoughtful improvements might fix the most egregious issues, and we avoid the big problem of how and where to find or finance $7 million dollars. I love sports, I think they are essential in a high school, but I also think fiscal responsibility is critical. Meaningful improvements can be made for a fraction of this proposed cost.

Jason January 19, 2013 at 04:21 pm

If the district has $7 million to burn, use it to compensate for any lost state funds after kicking out all the trash from Vallejo.

Scott Burford January 19, 2013 at 06:38 pm

Pretty lame comment Jason. It would be great if you could lend something useful to the conversation.

Jason January 20, 2013 at 12:33 am

Kicking out the trash from Vallejo and using this available money to increase the quality of the education provided to lawful attendants of Benicia's schools is not useful?

Scott Burford January 20, 2013 at 12:43 am

Jason, there are a lot of wonderful people that are from, and currently live in, Vallejo. If you have a problem with some of them - personally - then I feel obligated to inform you that the city that they are from does not define them. They define themselves. Bigots like you think it's pretty funny to refer to "trash from Vallejo" when in the process, you just let us all know where the trash really is.

Kenny January 20, 2013 at 12:56 am

Really Scott? Please help me understand what benefit to Benicia is there by allowing Vallejo residents occupy our schools? Their schools get property tax from their residents. Our taxes go to our schools. How does this benefit Benicia Scott.

Scott Burford January 20, 2013 at 01:07 am

Kenny, can you read, or did an equally illiterate person read my post to you just now? Where was I describing a benefit to Benicia? You are apparently, like Jason, so concerned about where the students reside that you are jumping to conclusions about my point of view on this issue. Truth is, you have no idea what my point of view actually is, since you have already jumped too far ahead and drawn your own false conclusions. One more thing, you need to use Google and learn how schools generate revenue. Study hard, and maybe you'll be on the road to understanding why the BUSD opens its doors to students from outside its city limits.

"The Black Panther of Poetry" January 20, 2013 at 01:08 am

Please Patch editors, stop this racist buffoon Kenny!!! You people seem to be at the ready when I offer my, sometimes very aggressive rebuttals. DELETE THIS FOOL NOW!!! Do it now, you would have done it for "Before caught doping, Lance Armstrong"!!!
Kenny their are hundreds of family members that live in Vallejo who is in the Armed Services dying and fighting so that you can spout out how much you hate them and their children!!

"The Black Panther of Poetry" January 20, 2013 at 01:10 am

Cody Kitaura, why are you allowing these racist to spew hatred when you and PATCH are always at the ready to delete my comments? Why? Especially on the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day!!