Editor, Times-Union: While spending the weekend in the North Webster area, I bought a copy of the Warsaw Times-Union. My attention was drawn to Gary Gerard's April 10 Newswrap column. The column regarding SB 391 told only part of the story. Since Gary was not in Indianapolis to attend the committee meetings where the bill that governs school publication requirements was heard, I wish to share the reasons many of us supported SB 391 and its amendment to grant school districts an alternative to publishing the school performance report in the legal ads of local newspapers. The most important reasons are:
n The present law requires schools to publish their performance reports in the legal ads. Few people are reading them and the expenditure by the school districts does little to help the public understand their schools. Newspapers publish important news in the news section of their papers. Had Mr. Gerard's page 1 column been in the legal ads, I wouldn't have seen it.
n To see the school report under present law, you have to buy a newspaper. For parents whose incomes barely meet the family's living expenses, the purchase of a newspaper is an extra they often do without. Under SB 391 and its amendment, the school district would spend its money on producing the report and the report would then be free to every parent and patron. Copies would either be sent home to parents or mailed to them. Interested school patrons would be notified that they could receive a free copy of the report by an 8-1/2 x 11-inch legal ad paid for by the school district.
n School superintendents have indicated that some explanations need to accompany the charts and graphs of the report so that the information is better understood. To make the additions under the present law means that the cost of the legal ad will be higher and it still would not be seen by people who don't read the legal ads and people who don't buy the newspaper. Under the amendment to SB 391, these explanations could be added without any significant additional cost. And, the report would get to every parent.
n The cost of the legal ads is excessive for many school districts. In 1998, Fort Wayne Community Schools spent $11,416 for their school performance report legal ads. Indianapolis spent $32,050. For those same dollars or less, a copy of an expanded report could have been provided to every parent and to all interested patrons.
The Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents is very aware and very appreciative of the coverage of the public schools across Indiana by the state's newspapers. Be it front page coverage of news issues regarding school and student academic achievements or the special coverage afforded sports teams in every community, we recognize the important positive role of the news media in public education. On this issue, we just think that spending tax money on a report that is free to parents and patrons is a better option than an expensive legal ad that few people read. And, should newspapers choose to cover the information as a news story on the front page, we would all have the best of both worlds.
Roger Thornton, Executive Director Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents
Animal Welfare
Editor, Times-Union: I am writing regarding the Animal Welfare League (AWL) of Kosciusko County and its funding.
As Interim President, I received a phone call from one of our newer members, telling me that someone told him the AWL had received a large legacy.
I would like to set the record straight: $200,000 was left to the "Humane Society" NOT the "AWL." The "Humane Society" consisted of 3 members which had closed membership. The President of this 3 member organization put this money into the Kosciusko County Foundation in a continuing trust. The interest income, of this trust, is approximately $9,000 per year. The AWL plans to apply in October (the earliest we can apply) for the income of the trust.
The AWL would have been grateful for such a windfall. We have long range plans to buy some land and build a larger and modern shelter, this money would have made this dream into reality.
The AWL receives only $30,000 a year from the county to run the shelter. This is our only yearly income. The rest of the funding for the shelter is from memberships, fund-raisers and donations. When the county was running the shelter, the budget was over $160,000 a year. The AWL has only $30,000 a year and we are struggling. Without the dedicated "underpaid" employees and wonderful volunteers working at the shelter we would be unable to stay afloat.
Thank you for letting me make public that the "Animal Welfare League" is not rolling in money. We are grateful for all the support and donations we have received from the many wonderful people in Kosciusko County who care about the abused and unwanted animals we see coming into the shelter everyday.
Margaret Kennedy, president AWL of Kosciusko County
Volunteer Week
Editor, Times-Union: During National Volunteer Week, we once again give verbal hugs and "pats on the back" to the 80 plus men and women who donate precious hours helping preserve our county's history here at the Old Jail Museum.
Coming from Claypool, Leesburg, Milford, North Webster, Pierceton, Syracuse, Warsaw and Winona Lake, these outstanding docents deserve our entire community's hearty "Thank You!" They certainly do have ours.
