School schizophrenia

I turned to a neighbor in last night's Van Buren Public Schools' board meeting and said: "It all seems so schizophrenic sometimes, doesn't it?"

At the time, the board was listening to a spending update on the new Belleville High School - total spending budgeted at $80 million, including the approval last night for a $335,000 for projectors, screens, document cameras and interactive devices. An embarrassment of riches, thanks to those who passed the high school millage after several attempts.

And yet, earlier in the same meeting, the board voted 7-0 and 6-1 to lay off a few dozen schools staff and teachers. I understand the difference between already-approved capital spending and ongoing operating expense, which is the critical difference here.

Nonetheless, the feeling is a bit schizophrenic - feast and famine, as it were.