Scott Coleman considers himself part of a "silent majority" that is against the .
"Someone has to provide push back, especially for the silent majority party that does not get up and speak. They just go to the polls and vote," he said in an interview with Patch Monday morning. "Someone has to provide opposition and give people a different viewpoint or vantage point and let them make a decision for themselves."
Coleman said he was one of the people who voted down the . Coleman added that he thinks there could be thousands of people who are against the current referendum, however, they are just "not coming out of their homes to voice their opinions."
"We have to look at the numbers," Coleman said. "Education is out of control and you have to make decisions with limited resources."
His opposition to the project is part of the "democratic process,” and Coleman said he wants to help "provide the public with information that allows them to make an informed decision."
"No side is 100 percent right or 100 percent perfect and you cannot expect them to be," Coleman said. "Sometimes, we or our opponents have to dramatize our positions in order to get our point across because they have to speak over the noise of the opposition."
By adding items to the renovation project such as the and air conditioning, the high school referendum has become "bloated,” according to Coleman. He said officials should focus on developing a plan for the "school of the future," which will last for 30 years and have the latest advances in education.
"We need to do a better job of finding out what the needs are for the future," Coleman said.
was also part of the silent majority that voted down the previous referendum, and he said it was too complex, confusing and too expensive. However, his position changed after was in late March.
"We are discussing a serious issue that will have an impact on the entire town," Cusano said about high school possibly losing accreditation.
After , Cusano, along with hundreds of other parents, help found the , "which is focused on supporting a referendum on the high school renovation project that addresses the NEASC concerns."
His group is committed to distributing information throughout town and making sure residents know the "full impact of possibility of the high school losing accreditation," he added.
“This referendum has a different feel to it,” Cusano said.
Coleman understands that this referendum is a "passionate" issue that involves parents and their children, however he questions whether groups such as "Stay Accredited" are reporting misleading information to get votes.
"They are talking about honesty and the truth when they are trying to instill fear to get your vote," he said about groups that are in favor of the referendum. "To me, the schools and they have to prove this is worth $45 million dollars ... And they haven't proven their point. They haven't got my heart or mind."
Cusano said he respects the opposing side’s position and feels it is “a nobel cause to want to keep taxes down.”
"We are not using fear or fear tactics," Cusano said about claims of misleading the public.
Coleman stated he has not found any universities in the area that require students to attend an accredited high school for enrollment. Coleman said he called the admissions departments at several universities including Harvard, Yale, University of Connecticut and Middlesex College and none said a student's high school being accredited was a requirement for enrollment.
"It is silly to suggest that going to an unaccredited high school will not have a negative affect to a student getting into college," Cusano said.
Patch independently called UConn's admission office and the staff stated that high school accreditation was not a requirement of enrollment.
In the end, Coleman stated even if the high school is placed on a warning list by NEASC, it will not "jeopardize the ability for students to get into college, reduce property values or have a negative affect on businesses." He added there is no fidelity to the opposing side’s claims.
"They are about putting up a building, not teaching our kids," Coleman said. "A building does not teach our kids, teachers do."
Coleman is asking people on both sides of the issue to post comments at www.rockyhillps.co or email him directly at referendum@rockyhillps.co.
Anyone interested in joining "Stay Accredited" can contact Cusano at tcusano@att.net.
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And teachers CANNOT effectively teach our children in a 30 year old school that was built for 400 kids and now has to accommodate 800. Scott you are not a parent of a student in our schools....stay out of it!!
And I didn't know that Scott Coleman doesn't even live in Rocky Hill! He can't vote for or against the referendum. Why is he so concerned about education in our town? Ann D.
To those who think their vote doesn't count for much and are in favor of the referendum get out of that cloud of apathy and realize every vote counts. PLEASE VOTE YES for sake of our moral & ethical responsibility to educating the young residents of Rocky Hill. People like Coleman will say anything to stop progress in all directions. This referendum is a last chance to put Rocky Hill back into the top quarter of the best schools listing. Do Coleman and many others know how far RH has slipped down the ratings list since 1990? Listen to our teachers & those who really know the facts.
We can't afford 20 years of unknown amount of TAX HIKES, I will not blindly vote. My vote is NO, and you can count my entire neighborhood as a NO, we've all had enough of this.
How about this Tony, those without kids don't have to pay, YOU can all pay the bill. Sound good to you?
Voting NO because the Town Residents can not afford 60 MILLION dollars with 20 years of tax hikes
I believe that there are many of us who are very concerned about the cost and the effect that this will have on our taxes and maybe this particular referendum is not the right answer...but what do we do about these issues then? We have great, reputable businesses in our town (Channel 3, Kohls, Marriotts), an unbelievable Town Hall Building, a great Ampitheater, and a Dog Park! But what will become of our High School??
Can you make sure you tell everyone the true cost? 60 MILLION So your answer is yes, YOU need to continue because the rest of us can not fund this insanity. Everything you mentioned above can be taken care of with a few million, not 60. Come up with a more economical plan that the residents can get behind. 80% of the people in this town do not have kids in the school system.
So Pete YOU are wrong, it's 45 Million + 15 Million = 60 Million. And this is just the 1st round. The next referendum will be another 45 MILLION dollars. Why does that 90 Million dollar price tag stick out so much? OHH ya, 2010, the same referendum that was voted down by a 4 to 1 margin is not going to be voted on twice. If it passes, people will vote with there feet like they are doing right now in Wethersfield. Then the poor folks that stay can foot the entire bill. Ba Bye Rocky Hill, a once great town to live in..