Heavy Hitters!

Today's Editorial in the Daily Mail (in part)

Remember the excess levy
A vote for better schools is a vote for stronger communities

Citizens of Kanawha County have never been satisfied with the minimum - not in their school system. Since 1937, they have supported an excess levy to make their schools better.

THIS ISN'T 1937 OR 47 OR 57 OR 67 OR 77. THOSE WERE THE YEARS WHEN WE HAD 25 THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE IN THE CITY ALONE, AND ABOUT 150 THOUSAND MORE IN THE COUNTY. THOSE WERE THE YEARS WHEN WE HAD THOUSANDS OF MORE JOBS!


The Daily Mail endorses renewal of the excess levy on Tuesday. It needs 51 percent approval to pass.

I HOPE YOU'RE NOT FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BE IN THAT 51%. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS TO TIGHTEN UP!

The measure generates 20 percent of the school system's $230 million operating budget.

THINK OF THAT! $230 MILLION FOR 26 THOUSAND KIDS? AND THAT'S NOT ALL THEY MONEY THEY GET!

It allows Kanawha County to pay teachers more than the minimum, and to offer excellent benefits. That pays off in retention and recruitment of talented teachers.

MINIMUM? YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART HERE. TEACHERS, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE KNOWS GOING IN WHAT THEY WILL BE PAID. IF THEY WANTED TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, THEY SHOULD HAVE BECOME DOCTORS.

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Add this to the mix and you see what I'm talking about:

Dow's South Charleston job cuts have begun
by The Associated Press

Dow Chemical's previously announced layoffs at its South Charleston Union Carbide division have begun.

Jim Guidarini, Dow's West Virginia site leader, says a letter dated May 1 went to local officials to formally inform them of the layoffs.

Attached to the letter is a list of 162 positions that are being cut and the ending dates of those jobs.