With the awarding on Monday of contracts for a new middle school, we would hope Central Cambria taxpayers would recognize this move as the official end to a controversial time in the district’s history.
We would hope the two sides involved in an at-times overly heated battle – one that often pitted neighbor against neighbor and family member against family member – would be ready to mend fences and focus as one on addressing other issues – No. 1, of course, being the education of the students.
Perhaps the two sides can even relish in the fact that the price tag for the new school came in nearly $4 million under what was expected. And the fact that, at least initially, the project will not increase taxes.
The decision to build the school was not a hasty one; the debate languished for years.
Everyone who wanted had a say, and the best part was that there were lots of studies, input and debate.
That’s healthy.
What wasn’t was the over-the-top animosity, name-calling and even hatred that resulted over the issue. Some people, in fact, acted very badly.
It even became the sole issue for voting for or against candidates for the school board.
In the end, was the right decision made?
It depends with whom you’re talking.
And that’s OK as long as everyone realizes that the democratic process prevailed and it’s time to accept the decision and to move on.
What the Central Cambria community also learned was that it has a lot of people willing to serve as leaders. And it has a lot of good people with good ideas and expertise.
There is no reason to believe that an already top-notch school district won’t be even better in the future.
Editorials
In Central Cam, time to move on | With school issue resolved, focus elsewhere
- Editorials
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Readers' Forum 2-11 | Liberals’ slow, steady assault on America
Recently, Health and (in)Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius issued an edict demanding Catholic hospitals and institutions to provide contraceptives, abortifacients and other sterilization drugs under the so-called Affordable Care Act.
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Laurels and barbs
Laurel: Richland High School students who qualify will be offered a golden educational opportunity this fall. In the first such program in Cambria County, students will be able to simultaneously earn their high school diplomas and associate degrees in general studies from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
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Readers' Forum 2-10 | Pastor: Area churches are in distress
As a retired pastor, I have the opportunity to preach in many churches in the area. What I am seeing is most alarming.
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Neighborhoods urged ‘to step up’
When government officials and community groups talk about neighborhood improvements, blight elimination and trash and litter cleanups, our ears perk up.
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Readers' Forum 2-9 | Find funds to heal returning soldiers
The article, “Military finds troops ailing; problems create health care backlog,” published Feb. 2 by USA Today, impressed me so profoundly that I just can’t keep myself from bringing it to your attention.
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Take in a high school play
“Peter Pan” has already done a flyby at Windber Area High School.
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Readers' Forum 2-8 | Ambulance crew following protocol
In response to the Readers’ Forum letter on Feb. 3 by Molly Comperatore, “Ambulance assoc. bill extravagant, unethical”:
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Protect young lungs
A recent CDC study concludes that too many kids are breathing others’ smoke in cars.
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Richard Dreyfuss | Future generations will come out on losing end of budget
As the governor’s state budget undergoes intense scrutiny, there is no shortage of speculation surrounding various fiscal austerity proposals and which departments and programs will likely be the ultimate budgetary “winners and losers.”
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‘219’ optimism is driven closer toward reality
Making U.S. Route 219 a four-lane highway from Somerset to the Mason-Dixon Line is a crucial project for our entire region.
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Readers' Forum 2-11 | Liberals’ slow, steady assault on America
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