Please read and share! An open letter to Baldwin City residents: I implore you to contact members of USD 348 School Board with your thoughts after reading my letter. I am a member of the Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Committee, Business & Professional Women, Baldwin City Economic Development, Rotary Club, a past employee of Reflective Group, and work & live in Baldwin City. The school board has the difficult task of voting Monday night on which of two proposals to accept for the old grade school. If you believe that USD 348 School District will only operate for one more year, by all means accept Tony Krsnich’s proposal for $20,000 more than Mike Bosch’s offer on the school at 8th & Chapel. I agree $20,000 is a lot of money in a one year budget. However, if you believe our school district will operate for many more decades, please read on. Starting from nothing but a card table and brain power plus much passion, Reflective Group was created in late 2010. They now have a track record of creating 18 jobs (last count I know), saving over half a million dollars, and logging countless hours in community service in less than three years. We could have a nice residence hall if the board votes Tony’s proposal in place. But if the opportunity to use the old grade school were given to Mike, ALL of Baldwin City stands to benefit with what Reflective Group offers. I present the following thoughts: 1. High speed internet with fiber optics located here in middle of the USA gives Baldwin City residents and businesses, and Baker University access to service first, the possibility of competition with CenturyLink or Mediacom making our bill more affordable, and from my past experience we stand to have more reliability of service. If any business can operated better we make more money and the school district gets more tax revenue. 2. What will start out as a 4 state region may grow into a USA wide internet service, headquartered here in town. Otherwise we lose the opportunity to Lawrence. When I look at Mike Bosch, I see Microsoft. The humble beginning of Bill Gates grew into billions of dollars. No one at this point can say what we might lose if Reflective Group leaves town. 3. Although it would be a unique location, you can build a condo/residence hall anywhere. The construction of the school fills the specific need for seismic durability necessary for a data center planned by Reflective Group. 4. How many more jobs will be created in town, 20? 30? 40 or more white collar jobs giving more tax revenue to the school? And with those new jobs will be some new residents needing new roof tops giving additional tax revenue. I wager the majority of the new workforce will come with a spouse if moving into town, so double that increase on taxes. Those taxes will come in every year verses a one year $20,000 windfall. 5. In nearly every meeting I hear, “We want to increase our local economy.” What better way than keeping a company in town that has already created solutions with a telephone service, a local online newspaper, credit card processing, web development, web hosting, tech support, graphic design, film and video production, and custom software development. And Mike’s vision of an incubator for other startup companies, some of which may very well choose to stay in town, will also help our local economy grow (and that means more tax revenue to our school district.) 6. We want to offer the best education possible, right? Even before placing this bid, Mike created “Geek Dojo,” where kids receive a unique, hands on education in computer science in an after school program. As they master skills, the kids advance from white belts to black belts. Mike is teaching business at Baker University and what other company do you know that, as a startup, saved over half a million dollars in their first two years? That is the knowledge that needs to be taught in college. Baker University benefits also in that a student need only walk across the street to intern for any incubator company, and have real world experience to boast on their resume when competing for a job after graduation. 7. A local recording studio would be very nice, considering my church is talking about making a CD and my business wants to make a commercial. 8. How sweet would it be to have Netflix right in town? Mike is working with Netflix to store their most popular content right here in Baldwin City. Instant download! 9. I respect what Tony has done in Lawrence, but I am rooting for the hometown kid. Why? When Tony is done, he will go back to Lawrence. Mike has already shown he’s a good neighbor and committed to our community. When the email server of a competitor went down, Reflective Group spent an entire week to bring over a dozen local neighbors back online – at no charge. When advertising was needed for the Parade of Lights, he covered it. When Economic Development put out a challenge, he created a Luau downtown. If you want a task completed, you want Mike Bosch on your team, committee, department or squad. 10. He has committed to keeping the old gym as a community center. He has already talked with the dance studio and Baldwin Athletic Club about access of the space. We need meeting room space in town. BPW would be grateful to continue the tradition of Maple Leaf Festival booths in the gym which Mike has committed to keep our club there. 11. Financial backing is in place to immediately move forward on construction and completion of his intended project. 12. Having worked only a short time with Mike, I can tell you he is a man of character and integrity. He is the type of person I want to see grow and succeed in Baldwin City. He mentors others, has seemingly limitless energy, and truly cares for his fellow man. Where most people talk about their faith, Mike lives it, dedicating time to acknowledge the Lord with his entire team every morning before starting their work day. The board’s task is to vote for what is best for the school, the community, and the city. I say the best outcome is Mike Bosch’s proposal wins, then all of Baldwin City will win. Please join me in requesting school board members to support his proposal. Contact information: usd348/board-of-education/members/ TerriLois Gregory
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 18:32:29 +0000
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