Jim Goodnight, billionaire founder of SAS, sent his Cary employees a long email about the Wake County bond referendum today. I want to congratulate the Wake County Schools employee(s) involved in the composition of the email. It was clear and concise.
Jim’s wife, Ann, is co-chair of Friends of Wake County (FOW), the pro-tax and anti-accountability group that supports the bonds. Lately, Ann has taken a back seat to her husband, who insists that he is just “speaking for himself.”
Here are some highlights of Jim’s letter to his SAS employees:
What will it mean to vote “yes”/”no” to the bonds? I believe this is possibly one of the most misunderstood aspects of the bond proposal issue. The bonds are about financing, pure and simple.
I guess the fact that the bonds will pay for a new weight room, locker room, and athletic fields at Enloe High School is off the table. But, Jim, shouldn’t we ask why we are committing to a $7.3 million renovation project that will add no seats? I have other points to make…
A “no” vote sends the School Board and Wake County Commissioners back to the drawing board. It will cost valuable planning and construction time…”
Funding is set for the 2006-2007 school year, so a “no” vote may delay some of the early school construction bids, but it would be an inconsequential setback. Besides, they need to go back to the drawing board (see above).
