Letters to the Editors

A blessing comes on the wings of a Catholic school

Re: McLaughlin at forefront of a building boom, Aug. 27.

Editor: Finally, what parents, children, and teachers really need, a truly positive school choice! At last Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School should really increase the values in Pasco County, not only moral values but property values, too. How wonderful for the young people of Pasco County. They will have the opportunity to go to a school that educates the whole person with genuine concern.

As a graduate of Marion Catholic Preparatory High School in Ohio, I look back fondly on my memories of a parochial school. The Sisters of Charity ran a wonderful school. We had the best liberal arts education that a high school could offer in my area. I thank my lucky stars everyday that I graduated from a Catholic School, one of the greatest opportunities of my life.

How lucky the young people of Pasco County shall be! A school that at least cares for them and will instill in them the best education and values, no matter from what religious or social background. If my teachers from Catholic school were around today, I would thank them daily for the values and fine education I received. The young people in Pasco County will at last be truly blessed with a Catholic education!
-- Fawn Lerner-Gilli, Tampa

Contrary to some opinions, teachers deal worth toasting

Re: Teachers deal is nothing to celebrate, Aug. 29 letter.

Editor: The letter writer cites teacher raises averaging $180 per year for the next 10 years. Does he have a crystal ball to identify these raises? He fails to cite the fact that any district's salary schedule is merely a reflection of the salaries paid for that particular school year. These schedules can and do change with the annual summer negotiations in each school district in the state.

He calls the settlement a "fiasco" when in reality the union and district school board were able to negotiate a solid raise this year for all instructional and noninstructional personnel that would blow his $180 average off the charts. In addition, the settlement provided an additional amount of money to continue to fund employee health insurance coverage at 100 percent.

Of course, those specifics were not mentioned because the writer was too busy espousing the rhetoric that comes from being employed by the James Madison Institutes. This organization has as its mission the goal of undermining the efforts of the teachers unions in the state and then privatizing many of the services provided by dedicated employees within the school system.

As an instructional employee in this district, I would like to express my appreciation for the efforts of the United School Employees of Pasco and the Pasco County School District negotiators in reaching an agreement that we can all be proud of.
-- Kim S. McLaughlin, Zephyrhills

Access to trail is a good start -- for some cyclists

Re: Teachers deal is nothing to celebrate, Aug. 29 letter.

Editor: Kudos to the Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mullieri for the new parking area and half-mile bike path from the Concourse on State Road 52 to the Suncoast Bikeway. We have been greatly in need of ready access to the trail.

Unfortunately, because of budgetary constraints, it is only a start to an operational path for bicyclists. There is no path at all for inline skaters who use the bikeway extensively.

As it is now, only mountain bicycles can negotiate the very rough several hundred yards through the woods (bark mulch) and the rest of the trail consisting of ground shell. It is very difficult for trail bikes.

There is a narrow bike path along SR 52 to the bikeway that can be used, but a safer alternative is to park at Crews Lake Park and ride close to a mile to the bike trail.

We will be waiting eagerly for the upgrading of the Concourse path making it safe for all trail users.
-- Charles Huhtanen, Port Richey

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Send your letter to Pasco Times, 11321 U.S. 19, Port Richey, FL 34668.

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