Op/Ed: Time to fix Special Ed. funding
It’s time for a funding system based on actual needs
By Lisa Lightner, Special to The Times
Lisa Lightner, as seen with her special needs son at The White House, recently.
The time is now to reform Pennsylvania’s special education funding
Based on broad, bi-partisan support, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has introduced companion special education funding reform bills: HB 2138 and...
Letter: Real facts about Taylor library move
To The Editor,
I serve as a trustee on the Board of the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library.
We made an announcement that we were moving location two weeks ago, which has been very well received by the majority of people and patrons.
There are a few people who are disappointed and that is sad; but I felt it necessary to set the story straight, as some of the letters to the press have featured incorrect...
The coming public safety crisis
If we don’t deal with it now, fire, EMS and police issues could cost us dearly
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
You’ve probably heard about the pension crisis, maybe the school funding crisis or any number of other challenges facing the commonwealth in the coming years.
But let me clue you in to one that might just have you up nights thinking about it: the coming public safety crisis.
The...
Letter: Library board has failed on relocation
To The Editor:
Two decades ago, the Bayard Taylor Memorial Library Board announced the need for a new library facility. This facility still does not exist and apparently will not be available for at least another decade. The Boards over the years have made decisions and proposals that the community simply does not support.
The community rejected the Board’s current suggestion to use the...
Primary aftermath: Dinniman comes out the big winner
The state senator was not on the ballots, but he emerged as county’s top Democrat
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
While most primary elections in non-presidential years are kind of ho-hum events, Tuesday’s elections turned out to be more revealing than expected, and at minimum give us some hint of what is to come in November.
Not shockingly, turnout was lousy, especially on the Republican...
Coatesville resident addresses state lawmakers
Debbie Willett (second from left) is joined in Harrisburg by Karen Brenneman (from left), former director of the Family Outreach Program at Child and Family Focus, Inc., a nonprofit advocacy agency; Rep. Tim Hennessey, who invited Willett to speak; and Deb McKinley, a grandparent from the support group.
Debbie Willett, who runs a GrandFamilies support group in Chester County, spoke in Harrisburg...
Letter: candidate opposes Keystone graduation requirement
To The Editor:
I oppose the effort to make the Keystone exams the deciding factor in a student’s graduation from High School. One test cannot accurately evaluate an individual students abilities or efforts throughout their K-12 education. Students show their abilities and skills in many ways and a single exam path to graduation narrows an individual’s path toward success.
The time spent instructing...
Letter: Dinniman calls on McCord to pull down ad
To The Editor:
Politics is admittedly a rough game but Rob McCord’s TV ad that essentially accuses Tom Wolf of being a racist goes beyond all levels of acceptability. I join forces with former Governor Ed Rendell, Senator Bob Casey, and other Democratic leaders in condemning this add and urging McCord to withdraw this offensive ad. When will we Democrats learn to stop shooting ourselves...
Spring brings out the senseless in politics
May brings flowers and Silly Season, Part I
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Ah yes, it’s May. The blooms are on the trees, warm sunshine is here (that is when we don’t get washed away by five inches of rain), the birds are singing and Spring is in the air.
Oh, and the crazy is really ramped up in the political world. From the 158th state house district to Gov. Tom Corbett, the red mist has...
Letter: Misinformation about horse breeding funds
To The Editor:
It doesn’t surprise me that Ray Farrell (in comments on this site), who is the campaign manager for Roger Howard, doesn’t understand how Breeding Fund payments are made. Farrell took the time to quote from the Racing Act the duties of the Breeders Association but neglected to review (or chose to ignore) the section of the law that explains how breeding fund awards are...
