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Letters to the editor, May 14, 2007
School start times
About a year ago I wrote a letter and asked the question, "When are we going to improve our schools from a biological standpoint?"
I cited a Stanford University study that The Journal Times did a story on stating that adolescents melatonin levels rise later at night and don't diminish until later in the morning. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates our sleep cycles..
I had many parents, teachers and even school board member Randy Banks call me and agree on this subject.
Now I came to find out the still have no intention of implementing the later start time for the fall of 2007 either. How much time do they need?
I'd like to get the school board in a classroom at 7 a.m. to take a Trig exam and see how well they do.
4623 Park Ridge Dr., Racine
Oppose referendum
To all the taxpayers in the Racine Unified School District: On this coming vote on the referendum to raise over $9 million plus the over $7 million they were supposed to save by changing insurance carriers comes to over $16 million total. Vote if you do not want higher taxes.
Hicks had six years to make a better school system, instead we have the worst in history yet he wants a contract so he does not have to be accountable. No way.
Some of these new school board members must have special interest in keeping these kids below average.
Michigan went back to the old way as soon as Hicks left. Why?
Only a couple people on RUSD have the backbone to try to fix it.
Vote no on this referendum and make them be accountable to this district.
On the salary, they are misleading just as much as possible. They only mention base pay and not a thing is said of all the step increases that helps demand over $3.5 million in raisers every year. If you don't want to pay more for nothing, either go vote or get an absentee ballot if you are not going to be available just like all of Unified does. You don't have an excuse for not voting.
You can call and have the ballot sent to your home.
Earl Jump
1501 Bryn Maur Ave., Racine
Financial dandelions
Finally, after the long, cold, dark winter, spring arrives. Flowers bloom, trees get new leaves, birds return and new life is here.
But whoa, along with the new life, old life emerges. The yearly school referendum emerges and our elected board members say that if not approved, western civilization will cease to exist.
Also, emerging like a dandelion is the "we can't survive" without the choo-choo train (KRM).
Schools: We are told this is a security issue. Solution: Lock the doors. Try to enter a school at 10 p.m. It doesn't take millions to lock them during the day and let those who enter that need to be let in.
School Superintendent Tom Hicks, for you to ask the taxpayers to give you this sweetheart deal with the record of Unified is beyond description and you should be begging not to be fired.
On to the great choo-choo. No one has shown a "need." All those in favor have shown a "want."
They haven't told us that the rental car industry is in decline because of modern technology. Also, the current tax is paying people to lobby for more tax money.
The old axiom "Follow the money" should be applied here. Who stands to gain? Certainly not the taxpayers. 1.7 million riders per year is 333 riders each way (14 trips) every day. Get real. How can anyone take this seriously?
We already have one financial disaster, it's called Amtrak.
John J. Halverson
7100 Meadowlark Court, Racine
Why not use bio-diesel?
After reading the article in last Friday's front page on the harmful effects of the bus emissions, and the high costs associated with the equipment needed to reduce the particular matter, it made me curious as to why they have not considered using bio-diesel?
Bio-diesel is the only alternative fuel to have a complete evaluation of emission results submitted to the US EPA under the Clean Air Act Section 211(b). Not only does bio-diesel reduce exhaust emissions, but no mechanical changes need to take place in order to use it. It helps support American agriculture, giving us greater independence for our energy needs.
Our company and many of our customers have used bio-diesel for the last five years and in Illinois, tax incentives have made a B-11 blend (89 percent diesel/11 percent soy) one of the most popular blends in the state.
Bio-diesel has also been approved by major engine and equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar, John Deere, and Case IH.
Anyone wishing to view the results of the EPA's report can view it at www.epa.gov/otag/models/biodsl.htm, or for more information on bio-diesel in general, go to www.biodiesel.org.
Curt Vacek
Energy Management Specialist,
ConServ FS,
4304 S. Beaumont Avenue, Kansasville
Reject school referendum
RUSD Superintendent Tom Hicks and his publicly elected Johnson devotees as school board members ought to be run out of town.
The continual use of consultants to conduct RUSD business is appalling. This money spent on consultants is not for education, and certainly does not benefit a single student.
All this taxpayer money Hicks' continues to spend is to further his own useless educational causes.
With the school board pandering to his every whim, we taxpayers are stuck with financing the superintendent's inability to get a handle one the outrageously low level of academic achievement within this district.
The only consultants he brings in are ones that support his ideas.
The only school board members that get elected are generously promoted by supposedly a concerned citizen; one whose company just so happens to also have a contract with the school district.
The superintendent worries about losing his own contract that pays himself off for doing nothing to further education in this loser school district.
He will continue to be criticized long after he is gone, not only just now. He will continue to get his feelings hurt. And he will continue to worry about lining his own pockets first.
Vote no in the upcoming election.
This is a special election. It's so special it costs $40,000 just to have one at this time of year when there are no other races going on.
Just so the Racine Unified School District can raise more money to blow on consultants.
It's about time we tell Hicks and his devotees where to go.
Jayne Siler
Racine
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