In a recent commentary, Jason Gibbs, state commissioner of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, wrote an upbeat piece about his department “doing everything it can to generate economic activity and create jobs.”
Not to nick-pick, but that’s a big statement — even for a politician.
A petition circulating throughout the UD-3 school district is imploring the Middlebury Union High School administration, board and teachers to “adopt a culture of excellence mandated at the highest administrative levels.” The petition has been greeted with enthusiasm by the board and administration, though early responses suggest that restricted finances will hamper how much can be done to effect changes on test scores that petitioners say are too low.
Certainly, current test scores validate the need for change.
When Vermont Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca visits the Vergennes Union High School board of education next week he is expected to have two key items on his agenda: school board consolidation and “school transformation.” VUHS has been a statewide leader on both issues (see story Page 1) and is deserving of the attention Vilaseca’s visit brings to the school. But we also hope the commissioner will spend a few moments talking about what the state needs to do if we are truly going to compete in the global marketplace.
While Congress is up to its neck wrangling with health care reform, the financial wizards of Wall Street are greasing the skids for a return to the high profits seen before last year’s financial meltdown, highlighted by the failure of Lehman Brothers a year ago this week. President Obama went into the den of Wall Street on Monday with the warning that the public would not stand for more reckless behavior.
The pertinent facts about the status of health care in this country should have been ample evidence to persuade Congress and the American people that ‘kicking the can down the road’ for another few years is not befitting, as President Barack Obama told the nation in a joint speech to Congress last Thursday, of our national character.
It is in the American character, the president reminded us all, to address the tough issues and to rally around those in need.
Give Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon points in courage for bucking the majority and switching to the minority party, but Vermonters should be wary of his reasons.
First, he blames Vermont Democrats for a budget process that was “rife with deficiencies and dysfunction,” and second, he says the Republican Party’s grasp on the fiscal crisis facing the state is better anchored in reality.
