In case anyone is interested, here is my take on the Safot-Mishkenos issue: The Mayor is correct in that the classrooms should not sit empty. But being correct and being smart are often two different things. Firstly, there was an agreement made at the end of last school year that, in part due to the horrific clashes that occurred during the two Mayoral elections we suffered through as a city, there would be NO changes made to ANY school building this school year. The idea was to let things settle down, and then revisit it mid-year, for the 2015-2016 school year. Next, Safot VTarbuyot is an exclusive school, aimed (at least originally, I believe), at the talented and gifted population. its enrollment, therefore, was never huge, but it attracted kids from bet Shemesh, Ramat Bet Shemesh and the surrounding Moshavim. It has specialized programs, and corresponding rooms - arts, drama, computers, science, etc... If it is true that some of those specially designed rooms were given over to another school, then that is changing the very character of Safot. Three: Personally, I believe that Safot should be moved to Bet Shemesh proper. 99% of its student body comes from outside of Ramat Bet Shemesh, and why should they have to travel each mornig and afternoon? The problem is, that there is no where to move them. Abutbul knew this school was a timebomb when he took office 6 years ago. In all that time, he could not find a shekel to spend on building them something in Bet Shemesh, or even refurbishing one of the old, condemned buildings. As was noted, the school does not need a lot of space, but they do need specialized space. He had plenty of time to work on this; he could have made them an offer they couldnt refuse - a nice new building, closer to home, etc... but, no. He had to use Mafia tactics, and come in the middle of the night. The night before school. Fourth: They claim they invited the principal in for several meetings. Let me ask you something: Does that sound right to you? Something of this sensitive nature, do you Invite (read: summon) a principal to show up at such-and-such a time (especially during her summer vacation)? Or do you call and arrange a time that is mutually convenient for all? And they act surprised that she was a no-show? Chuztpah. Fifth, and perhaps worst of all: This was not the Mayors doing. I mean it was, at the end of the day, but it was not his initiative. Abutbul is in the pockets of the Chareidi Establishment of this City, and has been from Day 1. The Rabbis said, Jump - and he said, How high do you want that wall? His political self must have known this was a bad, bad idea...but he had no choice. And THAT is the saddest truth of Bet Shemesh today.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:18:56 +0000