"It's for the CHILDREN..."

Yesterday, I received an e-mail signed by Superintendent Carole Smith, informing me that she was "excited" to propose a brand new half-billion-dollar property tax increase, with the proceeds to provide "modern learning environments" for all Portland Public School students.  Said "modern learning environments"  will include:
1.  Stage Rigging.  No, this is not new vote-counting equipment, but new and improved mechanics to hoist and lower scenery for stage productions, which, as we all know, ensures a well-rounded little Johnny.
2.  Science Lab Upgrades.  These will include new furniture and equipment, because nothing inspires our little chemists  like shiny new desks.  Gum deposits and carvings will be pro-rated.
3.  "Mobile Media Bundles."  No kidding, "interactive white boards" responsive to student-held electronic "clickers,"  a projector, camera, and speakers and more, enabling students to remain in their PS2-designed environments even while at school.
4.  Covered Play Areas.  Remember when you played outside on nice days and in the gym on rainy days?  Not anymore, thanks to covered outdoor play areas, 'cause nothing spells fun activities like wrestling or tumbling on an asphalt surface during a 40 mph gale.
5.  The Best Part.  All the above will only cost the "median homeowner" a pittance of $25.00 more on their annual property tax bill for the next twenty or thirty years.  Median homeowners, of course, does not include renters whose property taxes are concealed in rent increases, and a large portion of families with school-aged children are renters.  The actual effect will be about double the Superintendent's rose-colored estimates.  Of course, the current education bond obligations, nearly 30% of general property taxes, will not be affected.  I don't know about you, but my property taxes have more than doubled over the past ten years, one "insignificant bit" at a time, sort of like boiling the proverbial frog.  And we still seem unable to get more than 2/3 of the students to perform at grade level, doubtlessly due to the lack of interactive white boards.  Let's not even talk about the graduation  or dropout rates, both of which are abysmal at best.
The bottom line?  I find it amusing that our school administrators believe that borrowing half a billion dollars during Oregon's worst economic depression in the past 50 years is somehow a good idea.  This proposal epitomizes their ivory tower perspective.