Grosse Pointe North's North Pointe Newspaper Editorial Board says "NO WAY" to current Tech Bond!

Tech Bond is too much

In our previous tech bond editorial, we understood the bond to be all or nothing - either vote the tech bond in or vote it out, and that’ll be the end of it. So we figured no tech bond at all was much worse than an imperfect one. However, in light of the recent board meetings and community opposition, it is understood that the bond, if voted down, could be up for revision. And revision, editing and clarity is exactly what it needs. We’re pro-tech bond, just not this tech bond.

One item included in the bond is armed doors, a feature that seems handy in light of recent school shootings. But this fancy feature will most likely do nothing to defend us against danger if, say, a window is open next to the door. So what about armored windows? That is just one not-thought-through item included in the bond, which is why it could be valuable to vote this down and allow its creators to revise the bond to eliminate the wants and keep the needs - think it through. There's not a student in Grosse Pointe that hasn't had trouble using one of the ancient computers. This is a need. Armored doors are a want.

Also, we’re living in a time when there’s a new device out every si months, making it impossible and expensive to be caught up with the hippest new item. Sure, tangible textbooks go out of date, but technology goes out of date much faster. The bond needs revision to account for these swift technological updates and how the district would handle them.

Common Core offers paper testing to schools if computers aren't updated. We've got time. There's too much money at stake to make a hasty decision - focus on the necessities and justify everything else included. Voting for this bond should make Grosse Pointers think of the effects of new technology on students? And it may seem old-fashioned, but is all this technology (like the iPads) really necessary and good for students? It may be too soon in children's lives to start this. These changes should be more natural and occur with shifting of time, with the money shelled out over the years in increase in increments perhaps - not with a large, all-at-once bond.

Saying we’re against this tech bond doesn't mean we don't want what's best for students. Those campaigning for the tech bond should not be using this argument to guilt-trip voters. Like we said before: We’re for a tech bond, just not this tech bond.