They also don’t come out in opposition. They will be voting on this on Monday night? I wish it had been stronger. board@madison.k12.wi.us if you wish to comment!
Here’s the agenda
Here’s the item – It’s under “Board President’s Announcements and Reports“??
It doesn’t appear as if they will actually vote on this item, I’m unclear what this means.
Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education Resolution on the Proposed F35-A Operational Beddown at Truax
WHEREAS, the US Air National Guard has selected the 115th Fighter Wing, also known as Truax Field, in Madison as a preferred site for its F-35A Operational Beddown; and,
WHEREAS, in August 2019 the Air National Guard released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the F-35A Operational Beddown; and,
WHEREAS, at this time, the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) is reasonably relying on the accuracy of the draft EIS; and,
WHEREAS, three MMSD elementary schools—Hawthorne, Lake View and Sandburg—are situated immediately outside the 65 decibel noise contour shown in the draft EIS; and,
WHEREAS, in 2018-19, 73 percent of students attending these schools were students of color, 42 percent were English language learners, and 72 percent were considered low-income; and,
WHEREAS, the draft EIS states that increased noise levels resulting from the proposed action may interrupt speech and hinder the ability of students to learn and, contrary to the District’s commitment to Black excellence and racial equity, constitute an adverse impact on children, including low-income and minority children; and,
WHEREAS, the draft EIS omits Hawthorne and Sandburg Elementary Schools from its analysis and therefore underestimates the adverse impact of the proposed action on children; and,
WHEREAS, because the affected schools lie just outside the 65 decibel noise contour, Madison property taxpayers may bear the cost of soundproofing these schools as a result of the proposed action; and,
WHEREAS, the draft EIS states that 1,318 households lie within the 65 decibel contour considered potentially incompatible with residential use, and;
WHEREAS, many of the households in the area considered potentially incompatible with residential use are MMSD families; and,
WHEREAS, potential displacement of households and reduction of property values may decrease MMSD enrollment and the property tax base that funds our public schools; and,
WHEREAS, the draft EIS acknowledges the proposed action will have a disproportionate impact on people of color, and a City of Madison analysis further acknowledges that there are concentrations of poverty and people of color just outside the 65 decibel contour;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the MMSD Board of Education concludes that the issues identified in the draft EIS will negatively impact learning in our schools, reduce the property tax base, decrease school enrollment in the affected area, and disproportionately affect children and families of color and people with low incomes; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the MMSD Board of Education requests that the Air National Guard reconsider Truax Field as a preferred location for the F-35A Operational Beddown unless the draft EIS is found to significantly misrepresent negative impacts on learning, children and the community.
