School Costs

First just a couple of notes, there are now five more lots being developed at Freedom Estates. Three have been completed and are for sale (one already sold), three are just foundations and two are being framed. The pavement at Depot Park has been put down, it happened the next two days after I made my last post. The last step for that project is the crossing lights but that is not expected to star for a couple of weeks.

In the Bedford Minuteman this week there was an article on the High School renovation, “School renovation costs soar $8M”. The projected cost of the school is now $49.1 million! I am torn by this news; it is a lot of money that we the Town will have to pony up for this project and the amount seems to continue to escalate. Saying this I am one of the tax payers that will benefit for the project having two boys in the school system and in 8 years they will be enjoys that new facility.

Here is my problem, when it comes to the school system it seems that they have no conception that there are limited resources. They habitually submit a budget to Town Meeting that has exploded compared to the previous year. Secondly, they never seem to be able to say within the budget constraints decided upon. If the reason for the increase (as stated in the article) is purely the cost of supplies have gone up then that is of no fault of the school system but we should act on the plans and start construction. Regardless, we need updates to the facility; I just hate to see the waste.

One last comment about the school project, we can only hope that the school committee is right in that they are giving a low ball percentage of what the State will reimburse. The town would make a dramatic move from being financially sound to dire straits if Mass decides to lower the amount dramatically.

Technorati Tags: Freedom Estates, Depot Park, School Committee

Back into the Swing

I know I posted recently that I was going to be getting back into the swing of things (mainly posting on what is going on in our Town of Bedford) and a week goes by and nothing. Well, as I posted before I went through a Cartilage replacement and ACL reconstruct on my left knee last month. I did write about that on my Knee blog, you’re welcome to read about. Other than that I have been either out of work stranded at home, then relaying on rides to work and not until just recently, Wednesday, I was able to drive my standard (the clutch being the reason I could not dive) car to work.

Now that I am able to get around a bit I want to make the time to drive around town and take a few photos of some of the changes. Of the places I have been recently (driving to PT) I have noticed that it looks like they are gutting the old Raytheon building; it looks like a scrap metal site in front of it right now. Three or four new houses have popped up at Freedom Estates. Most of the sidewalk seems to be completed and the road is being prepped for the final coat of pavement at the Depot Park. I’m also interested in taking a ride to Avalon Bay, I hear the first residents are now in there, and also take a look at 447 Concord Road, Bedford’s publicly owned low income housing.

On a personal note, I am still on crutches so despite the fact I can drive I am still not getting around that entire well. I am also going to test out my stamina by taking the boys (hopefully) to the football game tonight.

Technorati Tags: Raytheon, Freedom Estates, Depot Park, Avalon Bay, 447 Concord Road, Knee, Football

SuperBowl Ring

I know this is probably not interesting to most but I had to post this picture. I had the opportunity to see and wear last year’s Patriots SuperBowl ring. Long and uninteresting story how I was able so I will not bore you with it. Enjoy the picture, I know I sure did!