Speaker 0: 0:14

Whoa, what's up, guys. I am so excited. Ah, over the weekend we hit 45,000 views 45,000. That is insane. That is like nowhere near Mr Beast level, but for a little Jewish boy outside of Philadelphia, man, I'll take that any day of the week. That is crazy. Oh my Lord. Thank you guys so much. Sometimes when you get a good slogan or a good campaign, you just sort of run with it. You know what I mean and, man, I'm so happy. You guys are sticking on for the ride and I appreciate that immensely.

Speaker 0: 0:49

So today we're going to talk about some absurdities of local decision-making. So, honest to God, you don't have to Welcome back to the Rock Bottom Podcast where we deep dive into the local decision making. So you don't have to. I'm your host, eric. And today we're tackling a topic that is heated as a malfunctioning school radiator the fate of the Council Rock School District's administrative offices. Buckle up, guys. It's going to be a bumpy ride, all right.

Speaker 0: 1:14

First off, we have the beloved Chancellor Center. Yes, the historic gem that's been around since the dinosaurs roamed newtown. And I'm not talking about crazy jack, the coolest dude you'll ever drink with. It's got charm, character and a laundry list of repairs longer than the line of the dmv. The price tag for bringing this relic into the 21st century at least minimum 11.44 million dollars. But wait, there's more. This building isn't just a fixer upper, it's a black hole for taxpayer dollars. And for what? So the admins can enjoy creaky floors and drafty offices. Meanwhile, parents and students see zero benefit, nada zilch.

Speaker 0: 1:55

Option two constructing a brand new administrative building. Because nothing says fiscal responsibility like spending $9.1 million on shiny new offices for a lot of people who, honest to God, don't do anything. And, like I said, joe Clark did a lot more for less. Sure, it's cheaper than renovating the Chancellor Center, but let's be real, it's still a hefty sum. And who reaps the rewards? The admins, of course, with their ergonomic chairs and state-of-the-art coffee machines. Meanwhile, the students they're still dealing with outdated textbooks and overcrowded classrooms. Yes, the middle school debacle.

Speaker 0: 2:31

Let's talk about the genius idea of converting the former Richboro Middle School into administrative offices. Middle school into administrative offices. This stroke of brilliance comes with a staggering price tag of 21.125 million dollars. 21.125 million? Well, at least to get the assholes out of newtown. Imagine spending 21 million dollars to repurpose a building that was already deemed unnecessary. It's like buying a mansion to store your collection of beanie babies and guess who's footing the bill? You are the taxpayers, all for the comfort of administrators who apparently need more space to shuffle their paperwork. I implore you again for the 80th, millionth time Check out Pensbury, check out Tom Smith, check out how incredibly amazing this dude is and how he stretches nothing and makes it everything. And, like I said, coming from new jersey where people do a lot with a little, that mentality has come with him. The man's a genius, and if our superintendent, mr fancy pants over here, would take a little bit just a little bit from that dude over there, we would be in a much better place because of it.

Speaker 0: 3:33

Renting the lesser evil. Finally, we have an option of renting office space. While the exact figures are as exclusive as a straight answer at a school board meeting, let's ballpark it at $300,000 per year Over a decade. That's $3 million, a fraction of the cost of the other options. Sure, renting means we don't own it, almost like a car lease. Many of you can understand that analogy. But it also means we're not sinking millions into buildings that serve little to no purpose for students and parents. It also means we're not sinking millions into buildings that serve little to no purpose for students and parents.

Speaker 0: 4:01

Yes, it's the lesser evil in a lineup of terrible choices, choices we've been making in this school district for the longest fucking time. Breaking it down cost and benefits, let's put the numbers side by side. So, renovating the Chancellor Center 11.44 minimum Benefits admins taxpayer impact high. Build new admin building Cost 9.1 million Benefits to admins taxpayer impact moderate to high. Convert Richboro Middle School 21.125 million Benefits to admins taxpayer impact very high. Rent office space 3 million. 10 years Benefits admins minimally taxpayer impact low.

Speaker 0: 4:36

Notice, none of them benefited the students or the teachers. Four choices that they're considering Not one. Not one of those choices benefits the students or the teachers. Four choices that they're considering not one. Not one of those choices benefits the students or the teachers or the parents. Do you see how absurd that is? And let me see. This is the district that you guys decided to move into. All you people over here on the corner of Buck Road and the bypass who bought $1 million plus houses that literally touch each other and you can see each other go poo-poo in the bathroom next to you and your backyard's a swamp.

Speaker 0: 5:01

I'm going to bottom line this hot mess with the subtlety of a jackhammer in a library. If you're a parent hoping any of these plans will somehow magically benefit your kid, spoiler alert they won't. These ideas aren't about the kids In a town that's supposed to be students first, always. They're about cushy chairs, big desk, energy and giving every administrator their own personal thermostat and six parking spaces. Because clearly the district's biggest problem isn't overcrowded classrooms or unpaid teachers, it's the superintendent's lumbar support. If you're a're a student dreaming that maybe, just maybe, some of these millions might buy you better textbooks, working water fountains or guidance counselor. That isn't scheduling college meetings during gym class. Keep dreaming, champ. Keep fucking dreaming.

Speaker 0: 5:42

This is the adult version of recess, and the only ones on the jungle gym are the district exes swinging from budget lines like it's american ninja fucking warrior. And if you're a taxpayer, congratulations. You're now the proud sponsor of the district office. Luxury suite experience gold-plated coffee stirrers. Check, mood lighting for budget meetings, check. A brand new wellness room with himalayan salt lamps, while your kid's lunchroom has moldy tiles from 1993, check, check. Meanwhile your kid is still using a chromebook with a cracked screen and learning geometry in a classroom that smells like expired glue sticks. I know I'm the one that spread the glue under that table back in 96.

Speaker 0: 6:17

It's time to put down the PTO bake sale cupcakes and pick up the metaphorical torches and pitchforks, because this isn't fucking budgeting. This is educational gaslighting with a side of corporate nonsense. You need to tell the school board in one united, thunderous, fucking voice. You do not need a 21 million office to approve lunch menus and email parents about tardies. Do yoga in the fucking copy room. Get a standing desk from costco and call it a day. You want better lighting. Open the blinds up, fucking karen. Meanwhile, how about you focus that energy and funding on things like hiring more teachers, paying the ones you have better, fixing the heat in the science wing, getting actual working soap dispensers in the bathroom?

Speaker 0: 6:56

We are done pretending that taxpayer money is monopoly cash. We're done watching administrators play musical chairs while our kids can't even get through lunch without the fucking fire alarm going off because of electrical issues. And we are especially done listening to budget presentations that sound like a ted talk about vision when all we really need is air conditioning and a functioning wi-fi. How many fucking times have I said that in a podcast? Parents, students, normal humans.

Speaker 0: 7:23

It's time to demand that every single penny goes to the front liners, the classrooms, the cafeterias, the libraries, not the mahogany conference table where someone just suggested we rebrand our mission statement with a $200,000 consultant. Let them fucking rent, let them fucking rough it. Let them finally understand what it feels like to work in a building that's falling apart, because that's been the teacher and student experience for years, and now it's their turn. I dealt with it myself in 1995 and 1996. And this is supposed to be the grand and luxurious council fucking rock school district. You guys are fucking morons. This has been a rock bottom podcast and if the district needs help saving money, I'll personally drop the budget plan on a cocktail napkin for free, and remember I don't get paid $220,000 a year to do it. This isn't brain surgery. Do the math, do the numbers. Until next time, take care of yourself and each other, fucking hell.