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In Our Opinion

School Districts Should Keep Teacher Evaluations Simple

Almost lost in the avalanche of legislation passed in the closing days of this year’s state legislative session was a bill untying teacher evaluations from state-mandated tests. Good riddance to bad rubbish. We don’t necessarily disagree with the idea of creating ways to hold poor teachers accountable and remove them from classrooms. There should be a way to remove teachers who can’t teach. It’s up to supervisors to set standards and make sure employees meet them. That’s how things work in the private sector. If you can’t handle a job, you can be fired. There is no better ...

Our View: Special Ed Needs More Attention

Unfunded mandates, products of the federal and state governments, do not sit well with local-level units of government. Neither do those mandates sit well with school districts and institutions of higher learning, especially as they are trying to prepare and balance new budget packages. Depending on the scope of such a mandate, an unfunded or weakly funded edict can wreak havoc on the most well-thought-out of spending plans, not only for a year but possibly extending far beyond. Why is it a good time to be reflecting on budget challenges, especially in regard to ...

State’s Population Loss Has Many Causes – But We Still Have No Solutions

It would be refreshing to read a population report with positive news for New York state. We’d do backflips down the bike lanes on Washington Street if Republicans and Democrats could actually agree on measures to help slow down that population loss. New York lost more than $14.1 billion in state-adjusted gross income over a two-year period as residents moved to New Jersey, Florida and other low-tax states, according to newly released Internal Revenue Service data. The data, based on income tax returns, shows New York lost more than 222,702 residents in the 2021 and 2022 calendar ...

Carroll Project Illustrates State’s Building Problem

It doesn’t appear that anyone wants a five-unit apartment complex in Frewsburg. A recent special Carroll Town Board meeting lasting more than two hours included not one comment in favor of a project proposed by Diamond Builders Construction at 82 Falconer St., Frewsburg. But, the project as proposed meets the town of Carroll’s building and zoning codes - so there needs to be a good reason to deny it or the town could find itself in court. In our opinion, what’s happening in Carroll is really happening across the state. New York finds itself with a shortage of affordable ...

Brick Roads Are Wonderful – If They Are Maintained

Study after study says brick roads last longer than asphalt roads. And we don’t disagree that brick roads, laid properly, will last longer than asphalt roads. But just because the bricks last longer doesn’t mean the road is worth driving on. Ask any resident of Howard Street, or any resident of Superior Street, what it’s like driving on their wonderful, historic, quaint and, don’t forget, teeth-rattling brick road. For all the talk about preserving a city’s history - and that has been the argument in favor of many of Jamestown’s brick roads over the years - drivers ...

State Deems Bridge Safe To Use, But Be Careful

As state officials told Ellery Town Board members recently, the Veterans Memorial Bridge over Chautauqua Lake is safe to use. County officials have been told the state Transportation Department has reviewed the project again and work will continue as originally scheduled. The delay was justified. Enough people use the structure each day that the review was the right thing to do. The important thing now is that people are paying attention, the state has been made aware of concerns and, because of that, we’re sure they will be watching the project even more closely than they already ...