School start time changes shouldn’t be rushed
Right now, it appears Unionville-Chadds Ford may be only district pushing for change
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
There has been increasing talk about changing the start time for middle and high schools in Chester County — driven largely out of Unionville — part of a larger dialogue going on nationally.
While its clear that the science supports such a move — teens seem to have built-in...
Letter: Library board lacks skills to build new library
To The Editor,
Here we go again. After over two decades of announcing the need for a new library facility, the current library board and earlier library boards have failed to provide a new facility. Instead the current board is forming another new committee to conduct additional study. THE PUBLIC DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER STUDY. THE PUBLIC NEEDS A NEW, MODERN LIBRARY! LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH!!
Tribute to a great man: Mayor Kennedy
Meanwhile, Trump claims PA election will be ‘rigged’
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
In a week that we should be celebrating the legacy of a Chester County legend — James C. Kennedy, the long-time Mayor of South Coatesville who passed away Thursday at the age of 99 — we are forced to deal with the specter of a presidential candidate who claims the commonwealth’s elections are...
School boards should take a look at ending private retreats
Even the perception that decisions are made behind closed doors is bad
By Mike McGann, Editor, the Times
Like most boards of education in Chester County, the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District board has held regular “retreats” — informal sessions where information is discussed and at times, the future direction of the district is discussed.
A district resident, Mark Stookey, has questioned...
Op/Ed: SEC mineral rule has undesired effect
By U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts, 16th Congressional District, Pa.
U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts (R-16)
As Co-Chairman of the Human Rights Commission in the House of Representatives, I am tasked with “promoting, defending and advocating” for international human rights standards in the U.S. Congress. But this month, I voted with a majority of my colleagues to curtail the application of a law designed to bring...
Local Democrats appear to enjoy surprising enthusiasm gap
Flap over Parrish’s finances may prove double-edge sword for GOP
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
With what seemed like a weekend of bad news, followed by the chaos at the start of the Democratic National Convention, if local Democrats seemed a bit down in the dumps, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Instead though — and I witnessed this first-hand at the Kennett Area Democrats office opening...
Violence is never the solution
We need to put aside anger and talk about what’s going on and why
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
We live in angry times, something we should all be worried about.
From the Republican National Convention in Cleveland to the streets of our cities, folks are expressing their anger, often at each other and not in particularly helpful or useful ways.
Like everyone else, I’m horrified by the...
Op/Ed: Don’t despair, volunteer
By Kathleen Meehan Do, Executive Director Kennett After-School Association/After-The-Bell
After The Bell in Kennett Square keeps middle school kids engaged and safe after school. But the program depends on local volunteers to make it a success.
It’s hard to turn the television or computer on these days without hearing more bad news. Reports about shootings, riots, and acts of terrorism can...
Letter: Our community supports correctional officers
To The Editor,
I would like the Chester County Correctional Officers to know that our community thanks them and stands with them, and I would like to thank Chris O’Donnell from Teamsters Local 384 for bringing to everyone’s attention the ways in which Chester County’s correctional officers and taxpayers are being unfairly treated.
As an attorney who frequently visits Chester County Prison,...
Letter: A property tax reform suggestion
To the Editor:
Every election cycle legislators trot out statements that they are going to do something about property taxes, and as sure as spring follows winter, nothing gets done and that issue gets put away until the next election season. It’s time to stop paying lip service to we, the taxpayers, and do something. I’ve been paying property taxes for 28 years, so I understand the struggles...
