Opinion

By BECKY THOMAS Staff Reporter As countless people have said before, the goals of No Child Left Behind are admirable. Nobody disagrees that proficiency in reading and math for every student would be a great thing. The problem with NCLB is its stringent goal to meet that 100 percent proficiency rate by 2014, and the punishments doled out to local school districts that can't keep up with the steps to that 100 percent. That's why President Obama was right to offer states some flexibility, just as Washington state schools Superin...

Lack of tutors, information for program at Cheney High School For the past month and a half now, I have been volunteering at the local Cheney High School for the current after school program Avid. During the time I spent there I noticed the lack of communication this program has with the community of Cheney. This program runs on the outside volunteers in the local Cheney area, in particular the college students of Eastern Washington University. This brings me to my concern is that these students don't have enough tutors...

By JOHN AHERN State Representative, 6th District There is a quiet takeover of private, in-home day care centers statewide. It began with the state standing over the shoulder of these child care providers. It has grown to the systematic shutdown of these family-owned businesses across the state owned by caring individuals who want to provide a safe and fun atmosphere for children in their own homes. The Department of Early Learning (DEL) has been putting a great deal of effort into being an enforcement agency. Sometimes to...

By Cathy McMorris Rodgers U.S. Representative, 5th District I recently had the opportunity to visit Fairchild Air Force Base again, home to more than 4,000 active duty servicemembers and their families, National Guard, Reserve, and civilians, and the largest employer in Eastern Washington. Fairchild – which is located 10 miles southwest of Spokane – houses the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings, which are responsible for supporting global military operations through air refueling, passenger and cargo airlift, and aero-medical...

The last thing this country needs as it tenuously pulls itself out of the economic goo of the last couple years is a sharp increase in oil and gas prices. Yet that is exactly what we have been experiencing recently. Oil that traded for just over $79 a barrel four months ago is now at $105 and climbing, pushing gas prices up to a national average as of Feb. 24 of $3.69 a gallon for regular. The causes and possible solutions have become political hot topics, as expected. Discussions about this country's energy policy are...

Seeking some answers regarding Cheney's pool predicament Certainly seeking state jobs funding to help solve immediate Cheney pool repair issues is a worthy community endeavor. We realized that last week's Free Press article left us even more curious about potential remedies for the city pool. For instance, does the 60-year-old pool fit into the city's Comprehensive Plan? When a city has a pool such as ours, what budgeting is allowed to cover repairs and replacement? What is the lifespan of a pool in our area? The city of...

With the retirement July 1 of Superintendent Larry Keller the Cheney School District once again finds itself searching for a new leader. Keller was a wonderful selection in 2008 to take over for Mike Dunn and has done a magnificent job leading the growing district through some big changes. He showed himself to be a true community individual by living in the district and getting involved in organizations like Rotary, Kiwanis and the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, where he served on the board of directors. Those qualities of...

Thanks to Cheney Light Department for safe return of cat Our family would like to thank three of Cheney's finest from the Cheney Light Department: Travis Billigmeier, Bill Widman and Will Birrenckott. Last week our family cat “Jack” spent a very cold and wet night for some unknown reason on the top of a 25-foot high power pole behind our home on Seventh Street. When it became obvious that “normal” methods to encourage Jack to back his way down the pole failed we called for professional help. Despite great risk and the pro...

By the time you read this, the verdict will be in on maintenance and operations levies for Cheney and Medical Lake school districts, plus another handful of others across Spokane County. At stake will be about 25-percent of the operating money all of our districts need to run the schools and a variety of other activities. As we said earlier in supporting these measures, the Cheney Free Press is hoping voters step up and keep doing what they've done for so many years and offer their yes votes. No one recalls the last time a...

By Michael Baumgartner Washington State Senator In his 2012 State of the Union Address, President Obama said, “Higher education can't be a luxury – it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.” Former President George W. Bush said, “Education is how to make sure we've got a work force that's productive and competitive … make sure that people have an opportunity to start their career with a college diploma.” The desire for good universities and colleges is nearly universal. Both Democr...

Support local theatre efforts in attending StageWest's show Our own West Plains theatre StageWest has an excellent play in production right now. “Portraits” gives us a compelling glimpse into the lives of seven very diverse people who were directly or indirectly affected by the events of 9/11, based on true stories. The characters are superbly portrayed by veteran actors and is directed by veteran StageWest actor Phil West in this outstanding directing debut. The show continues through Feb. 18 with shows on Friday and Sat...

Last month, following another increase in Washington's minimum wage, business groups reported to the state's House Labor Committee that employment, training opportunities and profits have suffered since the increase. In correlation with their statements, the committee is considering five proposals to cut the wage or allow a “training wage” to be implemented. At the beginning of 2012, the state's minimum wage increased from $8.67 to $9.04. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25. The reason for the increase is the 199...

Medical Lake levy supports class sizes, other activities As a resident of the Medical Lake School District since 1966 I have supported the maintenance and operation levy for many years. The current levy replacement proposal for Feb. 14 is essential to maintain smaller class sizes, advance placement, extra curricular, transportation for after school activities, textbooks, instructional materials, technology and science. The state of Washington has, over the last several years, decreased funds for many of the activities that...

By Brendan Miniter Guest Columnist President Obama recently took the stage in Osawatomie, Kan. and delivered what looks to be his administration's definitive statement on income inequality. Obama called this a “make or break it” moment for the American middle class. And he made it explicitly clear his favored solution for inequality is higher taxes on the rich, calling the current tax rules on top earners “the height of unfairness.” This idea is picking up steam well beyond the Democratic caucus. Even Warren Buffet wants h...

By REP. SUSAN FAGAN R-Pullman, Washington State As I have traveled around the 9th Legislative District, one common theme I have heard from constituents, including education advocates, parents, teachers and school administrators, is proposed reductions in levy equalization (LEA) funding in the state budget will impact the quality of education in our region. As the assistant Republican leader on the House Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee, I have tirelessly reviewed how the governor's proposed $152 million cut...

As 2012 approaches there will doubtless be no shortage of analysis pieces of the biggest stories from the past year. It's been an eventful year. Internationally revolutions in the Middle East overthrew long entrenched dictators. There were economic crises threatening to topple democratic governments, ongoing wars and armed conflicts and the killing of Osama bin Laden. Natural disasters always grab our attention and dominate the headlines, and the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan was one of the worst. Closer to hom...

Gov. Christine Gregoire's proposal for education reform finally puts teeth into the evaluation process for teachers and principals. The proposal could potentially make bad teachers resign after one year of bad evaluations. Currently, the system only has two levels: unsatisfactory and satisfactory, with no real consequences coming from receiving either. In Gregoire's proposal, four categories would be implemented: unsatisfactory, basic, proficient and distinguished. If teachers evaluated as “unsatisfactory” in September had...

Off-reservation casinos don't belong in Washington state As past chairperson of the Washington State Lottery, and a member of the commission for nine years, I have seen, up close, the expansion of gaming in our state over the past decade. Washington state now has more tribal gaming than any other state in the country, with the exception of California and Oklahoma. As more and more tribes have opened casinos in Washington, it's reduced the lottery revenue to the state, revenue that helps fund schools, small business owners...

Cheney football team fought hard, many deserve thanks Though the prize evaded them, the Cheney High School football team showed what it was to have heart, hearts of champions. The community of Cheney came together once again to support the efforts of the Cheney High School Blackhawk's football team. Many times during the 2011 season when visiting other team's territory, the Cheney fans nearly outnumbered the host teams. The boys who started the season became young men as they battled seesaw scores and disappointments for a...