Last meeting I asked Mr. Hyde what the percentage his company will be receiving based on the final cost of the new school, I had already known that his company and the school district were in contract agreements on the percentage. Mr. Hyde told me that his company is receiving 7.5% of the final cost of the construction of the school, minus grouting. The context of my question was very simple, there were absolutely no insinuations, whatsoever, behind my question.
I have never publicly or privately disputed the 7.5% figure, nor will I ever. I asked Mr. Hyde that question because when his contract was “accepted” in the November 2010 regular board meeting (a “motion was made by Hayes, seconded by Dobrino to accept the Architect Contract with Graham & Hyde with Tom Hyde as the architect of record for the building of the new school.”) the board briefs or board minutes did not state what the major stipulations are or what percentage the company would receive upon completion. Furthermore, everyone voted in favor of this motion.
I’ve had many people ask me what percentage and what amount our architect is receiving, I’ve had to tell them I don’t know, but I will ask. I’ve had many people tell me that since the charges the architect company is receiving have not been discussed in open session or in public, they have found it to be quite ambiguous. I assured them that people make mistakes and forget items, and that nothing about the architect’s contract is indistinct
Whether we are using approximately $19.2 million from CDB funds to pay for this school or not, they are still taxpayer monies. In addition we are using approximately $6.4 of district funds to finance the new school. With that stated the people of this district unequivocally deserve the right to know where the money is going, which makes it a proper, appropriate, and judicious question. And I apologize to Mr. Hyde if I put him in the spot, but you have to realize sir these are taxpayer funds who are paying your company.
Finally, it is pertinent to ask questions pertaining to accounts payable to whomever is receiving, profiting, or gaining from these school district funds. Which are in the end taxpayer dollars, and they deserve the right to know who is getting paid what amount.