Saturday Soapbox: New school; good decision

Returning students will have to get accustomed to a different building, but that's a small price to pay for the peace of mind parents will gain from Lake Zurich District 95's decision to keep students out of May Whitney Elementary School all year -- and maybe longer. Administrators and parents from other districts that have struggled with mold-afflicted schools could attest that mold can be a wily and persistent adversary -- one that exacts a high toll in anxiety as well as cleanup and repair bills. Congratulations to District 95 board and administrators for their timely decision to move students into the former Middle School North.

Patience may pay off

It's not easy for school board members to be patient about going to referendum, especially if a district faces the kind of pressing classroom space needs that hamper Barrington Area Unit District 220. All the more noteworthy, then, that District 220 board members have decided not to seek a tax increase in the early February primary. That means they may not go to voters until November 2008, more than a year from now. Board member Jeff Nordquist's explanation that "I want to set ourselves up for success, and I don't think we're ready for that" indicates a laudatory seriousness of purpose and determination to build a compelling case that should serve the board well when it does eventually turn to the voters.

Helping hand for teens' hearts

Personal tragedy often forges personal resolve, and so it was when Max Schewitz died unexpectedly at just 20 years of age of an undiagnosed heart ailment two years ago. Determined to help other families avoid such devastating loss and pain, Mary Beth Schewitz has generously established a foundation in her son's name that will join Midwest Heart Foundation to provide EKG tests for all 1,800 Lake Forest High School students next month. This is a truly impressive commitment.

'But occifer, we didn't mean it …'

Here's a cautionary tale for teens who might be thinking about doing a little underage drinking. Lake County prosecutors will be charging two young men, one 19 and one 17, who told authorities they'd been drinking beer near a Beach Park church when they decided to set afire ropes holding a U.S. flag and a church flag to their respective poles. When the flags fell to the ground but failed to burn completely, authorities say, the two teens decided to rip the flags apart. No malice intended, prosecutors say, just a drunken prank -- which will land the pair in court nonetheless. Which is a fairly common outcome in the world of drunken pranks.

He should stay to the end

Congressman Dennis Hastert has sidestepped questions about whether he's going to retire early from office. He should stay, if only to prevent a special election that will cost taxpayers extra money. Hastert is known for his loyalty, serving the public and limiting the burden on taxpayers. He would do all three by serving out the term voters elected him to, while giving everyone a chance to vote in his successor in November, not on some random day after the February primary.

From three to nine

Gov. Rod Blagojevich this week signed into law a series of new restrictions on teen drivers that should serve to make the roads safer for everyone. The most promising of the requirements? That teens hold a driver's permit, allowing them to drive under a licensed adult's supervision, for at least nine months instead of three, as now stipulated. Six additional months of adult-supervised driving should make a big difference in how well-prepared teens are when they venture out on their own.