LETTER: It’s a mistake to expel voters from Grafton school they own

To Ozaukee Press:

I would venture an estimate that very few Grafton residents have ever experienced this issue in their lives. I also assume that most of them are unaware that they have just been expelled from school.  

Village of Grafton voters have just been expelled from the polling location they have used for more than 10 years. We have all been expelled from voting at John Long Middle School in Grafton, effective immediately. How could this happen?  

That was my reaction last spring when the proposal was first mentioned. In this newspaper, John Scolman, an elected member of the Grafton School Board, said in regard to this proposal, “I don’t think we want those people in our building.”          

“Those people” are the taxpayers and residents of the village, the same “those people” who recently approved a $40 million referendum to improve the school facilities. Who does Mr. Scolman think we are?

In discussions with other board members, I asked why this was being considered and was advised that the Village of Grafton is the only location in Ozaukee County that votes in a public school. So what?  I was also advised that this would not move forward at the school board.          

John Long Middle school is owned and paid for by the residents of Grafton.  Mr. Scolman, the buildings are not your buildings.  

Some expressed concern that something could happen to the students during the election process. A logical question was asked—had any concerns been reported to Grafton police in the past? The answer was no.  

Recently, under a grant facilitated by Gov. Walker, all school districts received additional funding to harden school security postures.

I am an elector in the Village of Grafton and have volunteered to work during the past several elections held in the John Long Middle School gymnasium. I have never even seen a student during my 13-hour days working the elections.

I wanted to be fair in my response last spring, so I undertook a security survey of the current facility. Entering the school from the south, you are immediately met by a member of the Grafton Police Auxiliary who directs you to enter the voting area to your left. All of the student classrooms are to the right as you enter this door. In fact, the area for voting is a music room and two gymnasiums. These facilities are not in use by students during an election. In short, the current facility is a secure site.  

By way of clarification, I am a retired supervisor special agent of the FBI. I served over 32 years, with my last 10 years as the chief security officer, responsible for securing personnel, equipment, facilities and technology. Based on years of expertise, I believe this facility to be more secure than any other location under consideration.  

It only makes sense to me to continue to utilize government owned buildings for the conduct of government business. I hope the decision by the school board can be reversed. We, the village residents, own the building. It makes no sense to relocate the polling place to a religious facility and pay for the privilege.

I would be more than happy to provide my advice to others in providing additional security measures to further ease concerns of our citizens.

Paul J. Lazzari
Grafton