A Possible Path to Compromise Over the School Bond

By Peter Jovanovich

 

Former Rye Mayor Ted Dunn, and a member of the “Friends for a Better Bond,” urged the Rye City School Board to start talking to opponents of the $80 million bond to “find common ground.”

 

“Most of the ‘No’ voters are long-term residents who want to say here,” said Dunn. “We want good schools and an affordable Rye.”

 

In late 2011, Ted Dunn was a leader in the effort to defeat a $20 million bond to build a new science wing at Rye High School. After the bond was defeated, the School Board met with leaders of the “No” vote group to discuss alternatives. A compromise bond of $16.35 million, supported by Dunn and others, was approved by voters by a 2-1 margin in March 2012.

 

“The process worked well then,” said Dunn,” and it can again if we work together for a better Rye.”

 

Regarding the possibility that the Board would resubmit for voter approval the same bond that was defeated on March 12, Dunn remarked: “Rye doesn’t need two failed votes. This would split the community in a very bad way. Figure out a compromise.”

 

Longtime civic leader, Peter Larr, concurred. “It would be a great temptation — and a great mistake — for the School Board to resubmit the $80,000,000 bond. This would be very risky to the value system of Rye, which is based on compromise.”