David Stackhouse's less than subtle jab about energy vampires last Monday night reminded us how much the district has done regarding vampire energy. Well...exactly nothing. Unless of course, like everything else, after publicly denouncing the idea brought forth by a community resident, the district regrouped and quietly started attacking the problem behind the scenes.That's what happened with pizza, Kit Kat bars, ans who knows what else. You see, the district administration --AND the school board--- share a basic psychological problem. They cannot simply take the high road, admit when they are wrong, and thank residents when they point flaws in their system out to them.
Oh, hell no! Their psychological issues require them to be viewed as the smart ones...the ones that "know what they are doing". So, instead of owning their problems, their mental tactic is to rally around each other an make ludicrous arguments to support what they are doing, and attempt to make any resident who believes otherwise, look foolish. THEN, of course, they scurry off like rats and cease whatever practice gets called out.
So...back to energy vampires. This issue was raised exactly a year ago. Administration again gave the citizen the look of "You've got to be kidding". And then there was quiet. The citizen raised the issue, particularly because the district has a rather large population of computers and cell phones, both of which rank high on the list of "energy vampires".
Before approving the purchase of 1075 computers with referendum dollars, the district already owned 2439 computers. This new purchase will bring the district tally to 3514 computers. Care to guess how many cell phones the district has? How many cell phone charges are sitting on desks plugged into an outlet, awaiting to mate with the cellphone for some charging action? How many computers are sitting turned off, but still plugged into an outlet? Let's not even talk about computer monitors!!!
When that citizen pushed the issue through e-mail, the district position was that they could not unplug computers--or even turn them off--at night because it would take so long for them to boot up and connect to the servers in the morning. That, friends, underscores a weakness in the server capability that should be addressed immediately! Allowing vampires to lurk among you because your servers are inadequate is just not good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
Mr. Stackhouse....energy vampires are not the coffeepots or small refrigerators of which you spoke. Certainly, those are a power drain for the district--and we like your idea to have the district make sufficient "Energy Star" refrigerators available for staff. When that annoying citizen spoke of energy vampires, the concern was for the high technology devices that suck juice EVEN WHEN TURNED OFF!
Instead of sticking a stake right through the heart of employee morale (or some silly game of retribution because the teachers refused to volunteer a furlough day) by insisting on personal appliance fees, the school board should direct administration to evaluate the impact of and find a solution to energy vampires.
Are your personal appliance fee projected revenues of $6,000 per year REALLY what's at issue here? Industry estimates suggest that your 3500+ computers alone can cost you over $100,000 in vampire energy costs alone. It seems, once again, that you've hit way too many potholes and your priorities are out of alignment.
Oh...and Mr. Stackhouse? Please don't take this as a personal affront. Frankly, overall, we like your renewed vigor at the school board table. Whether fueled by rejection from your fellow board members, or whether you've simply started eating your Wheaties before board meetings, more often than not of late your comments are on target. We thank you for that.
...and for you unbelievers out there...here are some facts
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