Editor’s note: At a special elector’s meeting held Aug. 30, which the Journal reported on, River Falls School District residents in attendance voted unanimously to grant the district authority to execute a lease agreement for a new Renaissance Charter Academy building. The meeting was properly noticed according to state law.

To the editor,

Oh wait, it is not a build. It is a lease, not a buy or build. Well then, why did RF School District pay nearly $1 million to a private developer to construct a building they are paying premium market rates to lease until a referendum of prayers passes for 50 students when they have capacity in their current buildings.

In the quiet of the night, some school boards make decisions that affect us all. They embark on ambitious, expensive construction projects without taxpayers' awareness or consent, leaving us to foot the bill. While the spirit of intent may seem noble, the lack of transparency in this process is fundamentally wrong. It's high time we, the people who pay the bills, have our voices heard and our votes counted.

Why should schools have the power to construct new buildings without seeking approval from those who will be financially responsible for them? Is it not our right, as taxpayers, to weigh in on these monumental decisions that will have a direct impact on our wallets? This is not just about fiscal responsibility; it's about accountability and democracy in action.

One must question the necessity of these construction projects, especially when River Falls School leaders have expressed concerns about future enrollment. Is this new building truly essential? It’s time for our school board to provide clear answers and engage in open dialogue with the taxpayers they represent. the River Falls School Board meetings online show a board crying poor. This flies straight in the face of what they just did.

First, they had $1 million to give to a private developer. Where did that come from? Why did that not go to teacher salary increases? Classroom improvements? Next, they set up a build disguised as a long-term lease to avoid taxpayer input and decision. The publicly available information shows this was an awful financial deal for River Falls taxpayers and appears to be a quest to just expand the kingdom.

Moreover, the use of third parties to avoid taxpayer input is an affront to the principles of democracy. Every taxpayer has a stake in the decisions that shape our educational institutions, and our perspectives should not be sidestepped in favor of secrecy and expediency.

As concerned citizens, we must demand that our school boards be transparent, accountable, and respectful of the voices and votes of the very people they serve. We should have the right to decide where our money is invested and whether new school buildings are truly needed.

Sherry Keller

River Falls