Letters to the editor: No common sense on schools

No common sense on schools

When did Delaware lose both its common sense and sense of propriety?

First our politicians gave our ridiculous referendum process to their political allies, and now they're suggesting that we voters shouldn't even be able to vote on our own tax issues. Isn't this taxation without representation? If districts lose a referendum they get a do-over.

In all fairness, why can't losing taxpayers get a do-over of our own whenever the districts win a referendum?

We even have a judge who decides a referendum was handled illegally, but because the unfair winner needs the money they can keep the money. How is that different from robbers breaking the law and being allowed to keep stolen goods because they need the money?

When will common sense prevail and do away with our state's 19 separate school districts? This is nothing but bureaucratic bloat, featherbedding redundant positions 19 times. If our politicians really wanted to save money, this is one easy answer.

Do any of our elected officials have the courage to use common sense in these areas? Or, is my question about courage already answered by those who stand by and do nothing? Let's remember the political cowards when they run for re-election.

John Newton

Wilmington

Kindness of CR community 

On June 3, our father, John G. Cooper, became an honorary graduate of the Caesar Rodney High School class of 2017 at the age of 93. For him, this was an unexpected honor and fulfillment of a goal that he was not able to accomplish in 1941 due to hard economic times and the pending threat of World War II.

We would like to thank the Delaware Board of Education, Caesar Rodney Board of Education President  William G. Bush, and all members of the CR Board for graciously acknowledging that John had fulfilled all the requirements needed for graduation.
We would also like to thank Superintendent Kevin R. Fitzgerald, Principal Sherry Kijowski and Delaware Gov. John Carney for their kind words during the graduation.

A special thank you also goes to Coach William Victory who escorted our father with a steady hand as he walked to the platform to receive his diploma.

But most importantly, we would like to thank the Caesar Rodney High School graduates, their family and friends for the standing ovation and heart felt cheers as our father joined the Class of 2017. Your sense of community and strong school spirit is greatly appreciated by our family.

Denise C Curtis and Barbara C DeBastiani

Milford

Williams worked with 'gusto'

I was sad to read of Ron Williams’s death. He was one of the greats of Delaware journalism. When he wrote, he did so with all the gusto he could muster -- as if he was still with special forces. His work was always without fear or favor.

I had the good fortune to work with Ron first at The Review at the University of Delaware and then later in Sussex County, where he taught me everything I needed to know of the local lore. For that I am grateful.

It is distressing to see so many newspapers crumbling financially these days, and more tragic still that we will no longer have Ron to explain the news to us. How lucky we were to have him.

John Fuchs

Caldwell, N.J.

Delaware progressive on environment

I feel exceedingly proud that our state is now part of the U.S. Climate Alliance thanks to Gov. Carney’s leadership. Delaware has some of the lowest lying shorelines on the East Coast and climate change is already affecting us.

Areas in Sussex County flood more often and more rapidly than in the past, our agricultural yields are being impacted by extreme weather, and I think Delawareans from Greenville to Georgetown can agree that this past winter was warmest that any of us living today can recall.

It is for these reasons we should be leading the way in reducing CO2 emissions with green energy technologies as well as increasing funding for more programs that adequately prepare us for the impact that global warming will have on our state. In short the First State needs to be first in combating climate change and healing our earth because we have arguably the most to lose.

Erica Jones

Newark