Herald Editorial

Vote ‘yes’ on Lawrence school spending plan

Posted

Lawrence Board of Education trustees and school district officials maintain a close watch on spending, while making sure that students have the programs and services they need.

At $102.44 million, the proposed district budget is increasing by 1.65 percent with no tax-cap boost, but includes security enhancements for all four school buildings, Chromebooks for all high school students and the addition of a Mandarin elective for those students.

Proposition 3 asks residents to approve a transfer of $4 million to the capital reserve fund for an array of improvements to the Lawrence High School and Broadway campuses and districtwide roof, lighting and ceiling replacements.
We urge voters to approve the budget and the proposition on Tuesday.

Blachorsky is the choice for trustee
Incumbent Board of Education Trustee Heshy Blachorsky, running for a second three-year term, is being challenged by Asher Matathias, who has run in every Lawrence school board election for the past five years.

Blachorsky has made good use of his time behind the scenes, helping to organize a community basketball game between Lawrence High students and 4th Precinct police officers in the interest of improving relations. He is also part of a board that is making sound financial decisions.

Matathias has improved his behavior at school board meetings. For several years he verbally attacked trustees, administrators and members of the media. He also has a good grasp of the issues.

The one thing we ask Blachorsky and his fellow trustees is to come to terms on a new contract with the Lawrence Teachers Association. That settlement is past due. Abel Feldhamer is running unopposed.

The Herald endorses Blachorsky's and Feldhammer's candidacies.

Support the PPL budget

With all eyes on the promise of a new building, Peninsula Public Library officials say that the increases in the proposed $3.37 million budget are related to the consulting fees for construction.

Sitting Trustee Samuel Francis, the current board president, is running for another five-year term.

Francis, the other trustees and library Director Carolynn Matulewicz are working hard on the new facility. Both the budget and Francis deserve voters’ support.