Viewpoints

To the Editor:
I recently asked Superintendent Dave Herold what the meager Republican school funding proposal would mean for Allamakee Community School District students.
Here is some of what he wrote: “We will need to reduce staff which will lower student achievement, lessen dual enrollment offerings, and raise class sizes for all K-12 grades. We will also need to look at eliminating some fine arts programs if we only receive 1.25% SSA. Career and Technical Education programs will need to be cut as well.”
I appreciated Superintendent Herold’s response and the similar responses from educators and school board members across the state.
Many also asked me a question: How did school funding get to be so partisan?  
I wish I knew. Most Iowans value our state’s leadership in education and want to maintain it. Great local schools are valuable assets to our communities.

To the Editor:
Every session the question facing the legislature is how to fit Iowans’ priorities within the constraints of state revenue.
For years, state government in Iowa operated much like it does in Washington, D.C. – spend more than they have, send taxpayers into debt, and pass hard decisions off to future lawmakers.  Each year another legislature came to Des Moines, spent every last dime of taxpayer money – even money they knew wouldn’t be there the following year. The breaking point came when Governor Culver and legislative Democrats not only had spent more than the state had, they leveraged the state into debt… and then the economy dropped out. Scrambling, Governor Culver took an axe to the budget – indiscriminately slashing it by 10 percent.  By far the biggest casualties of this action were Iowa’s schools.

To the Editor:
Every April, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month to increase the public’s awareness and understanding of alcoholism and alcohol-related issues. The theme for this 29th year of awareness is “For the Health of It: Early Education on Alcoholism and Addiction.”
This year, Helping Services for Northeast Iowa and Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health want everyone - especially youth - to understand the importance of treatment and prevention of alcoholism. Early education encourages individuals and their families to remain aware of the issue and empowers them to take action to prevent alcoholism.

To the Editor:
Prom Night... means different things to different people. To the students, it’s a chance to dress formally, enjoy time with friends, and stay out all night.
To a parent, there is always a concern to keep the students safe on this special night.
For many years now, our community has done just that with a safe, substance-free, post-prom celebration for all Waukon High School students and guests.
From midnight to 4 a.m., the teens have a good time playing various games, eating donated food, and winning prizes that have been donated or purchased at a discount from local businesses. This year we are adding some new entertainment and games as well as continuing the popular hypnotist performance.  Our goal is to get as many students as possible to the post-prom celebration - and keep them there so they are not out driving the streets, abusing substances, or putting themselves in danger.

by Patti Ruff, State Representative

by Mike Breitbach, State Senator

by Dick Schilling, Editor Emeritus

To the Editor:
This year the greater part of the population of the world will celebrate Easter, the day after the celebration of Passover. It is rare for the two celebrations to be so close together. Sometimes they are as much as a month apart.
So what is the difference? Easter dates back as far as Babylon. Perhaps you remember hearing of the Tower of Babylon dated back to Genesis eleven where Yahweh came down from heaven and confused a lot of people with different languages.

To the Editor:
How can a man who has been legally dead start receiving mail again? I have not had mail for Dale since he passed away (March 2011) until this past fall and now all of a sudden he is getting letters from both political parties and from every senior program you can name. Places are even urging him to sign petitions to save Social Security. And even a few phone calls have asked for “Mister...” and then they stumble over the last name.
I have returned a lot of these letters with “Deceased” printed across the top, but they still keep coming. I have now decided to save my ink and stamp and just put those letters in the recycle bin. Perhaps it will save a tree if it is recycled.
I pray he doesn’t vote on any issues, don’t you?
Another question: how can you register your phone so you will not receive these harassing phone calls, especially on Sunday, and still have them call you?

by Iowa State Representative Patti Ruff