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Separate, not secret |
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That's our wish for the Economic Development Commission as it moves out from under the supervision of Jackson County's board of commissioners and becomes autonomous.
If separating from the umbrella of county government enables the EDC to operate more effectively to benefit all of Jackson County, then we're all for it. However, we do have concerns. We feel that members of the EDC, though appointed rather than elected, are still charged with acting in the best interests of the citizens of this county and must remain open about their dealings to the full extent of North Carolina's Open Meetings and Public Records laws. We understand that some matters must initially remain confidential, but we encourage the EDC to be forthcoming with details about any new industry or local expansion that may create jobs. The people who will fill those jobs want and deserve to know about them in a timely manner. Despite name changes and non-profit corporations, the fact remains that assets controlled by the EDC and its property-owning offshoot Jackson Development Corp. can mostly be traced to public dollars. We applaud the past efforts and successes of the dedicated EDC members. We appreciate their vision and service to all of Jackson County. We encourage them to make open communication a priority as they continue to promote Jackson County. Let's find more money for county teachers |
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To a child, teachers are the school. They are the center of a kid's world. They're all that matters. Good teacher, good year. It's that simple.
Children don't always know their superintendent, and they're even less likely to be able to name any school board members. Mostly they know their principal. But they all know their teachers. Do our county's teachers deserve a supplement? Absolutely. Should administrators be included? We think not. County commissioners are facing a dilemma: They'd like to help, but their resources are committed elsewhere - in a large part to major upgrades of school facilities. We support a supplement for our extremely deserving teachers and teacher assistants. However, in light of commissioners' financial commitment to school construction, we think the school board should examine its own budget and find a way to redirect some funds toward a teacher pay increase. The school board's participation should be more significant than simply asking commissioners for more money. Our children deserve the best teachers; their futures depend on it. So let's pay our teachers accordingly. Editorial policyThe opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views. |
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