Cheers: The process was contentious, but kudos go to the Vancouver Public Schools board for finally passing an operating budget for the 2015-16 school year — just in time for classes to begin next week. As board member Kathy Gillespie said: “If a budget process is not uncomfortable, you are not asking the right questions.”
The biggest roadblock was a desire to add more counselors to district schools, and the end result will see the addition of 29.3 counseling positions. Importantly, those positions will be added without cutting other money that directly supports students; the funds will come from trimming expenses elsewhere, including a 3 percent reduction in central administration and operation support services, materials, supplies, and operating costs. Gillespie said: “What we’ve done is ensure the community that we’ve found every dollar and directed it to student need.”
Jeers: Officials have allowed the state’s mental health system to reach a distressing level, judging by a report from a court-ordered monitor. In April, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that holding mentally ill people in jail for months while awaiting competency hearings was unconstitutional, and she ordered an assessment of the situation. The monitor’s initial quarterly report, issued this week, said: “The critical conditions in the jails suggest that interim urgent measures to clear backlogs are in order.”
State reports show that many people spend more than 100 days in jail while waiting for a competency hearing, and the state has been ordered to cut that to seven days by the end of the year. The issue is one of basic human rights and must be addressed quickly and forcefully by state officials.
Cheers: Many thanks go to all residents who participated in an online survey posted by the Vancouver City Council about ways to improve the city. Residents listed transportation as their top priority, with improved parks, trails, and recreation coming in second.
The results are highly unscientific — there were 2,227 responses — and city officials should keep that in mind rather than viewing the feedback as a mandate. But the important thing is that officials took an innovative, high-tech approach toward leading the community in a discussion about what is on the minds of the populace. Consider the results to be a good conversation starter.
Jeers: In what takes this week’s prize for the most bizarre news story in the state, a 43-year-old woman received a $136 ticket for breast-feeding her 1-year-old while driving on Interstate 5 near Everett.
The dangers inherent with such an activity are obvious, but the case also brings up additional issues. According to The Seattle Times, the woman has a long history of driving infractions, including using a cellphone while driving, speeding, and following too closely. And according to some reports, she admitted to being pulled over previously while breast-feeding. All of which brings up the question of what it takes to revoke a person’s driver’s license. This woman is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Cheers: Believe it or not, another high school sports season is upon us. Football, the most popular of high school sports, kicks off Thursday and Friday with a slew of games throughout the area.
While professional and big-time college sports receive the bulk of attention, high school sports remain a part of the fabric of America. Few high school athletes go on to play even college sports, yet they compete out of a desire to test themselves and improve themselves and engage in the camaraderie that comes from being part of a team. Those are experiences that provide life-long benefits.
