The Cortez Journal leads a headline with “Savior for Calkins...” (Oct. 28). If you consider a private, out-of-state developer as a “savior” that is not only misleading, but certainly biased. The future of the Calkins building should be a community decision. This historic gem was built, added onto, and maintained with taxpayer dollars. I feel strongly that the building should remain in the taxpayers’ hands. There is much information and data that supports the board and district in the past have been financially prudent (the district has invested approximately 21 percent of the rehabilitation costs thus far, leveraging grants from DOLA, state impact funds, and state historic grant monies). None of the funds was taken from kids. Money was even set aside to match future grants in a specific line item. Somehow there is no line item in the current budget and the funds were used elsewhere. If the district sells this building there is no public recourse to save the building as a public entity. It is just an asset sold. One possibility suggested to the current Board is for a private party to readdress the building as an assisted living space. Where do you think the public would reasonably have a vested interest or access to the building and its history? The local historic society would be a great asset in helping to find a solution. They have always been supportive of Calkins and interested in a place to display historic items. Why not work together? There are other solutions to the Calkins issue. A bond for $700,000 would finish a $3.5 million project. That is much less investment than the new MCHS. Will there be other requests from the district for new elementary facilities? And certainly the current administrative site was always considered temporary. What will it cost to change this status? I am sure there are lots of ideas out there. The district says that it does not seem an important matter because it has not heard from the community. Please let the district hear your opinions and ideas.
Jackie Fisher
Cortez