Saturday Soapbox: DuPage County
Not good for parents, or goodwill
The abrupt closure of Edward Hospital's day school for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties, due to budgetary issues, is a disheartening development for the families who had 38 children enrolled in the hospital program. Hopefully they can all be quickly placed in good alternative programs. The closure also comes at a bad time for the hospital. It needs every voice it can muster from every corner of the community to support its plans to build a new hospital in Plainfield. Hard to believe it can now rely on support from the parents of those 38 children.
A sign of the times
In an effort to improve college campus safety, the Illinois House voted this week to let all university police officers carry guns while on duty. The idea, which makes sense, gained momentum after the deadly NIU shootings in February. It moves to the Senate for consideration. The proposal does include certain safeguards. For example, only sworn, trained officers -- not security guards -- may carry a weapon. If nothing else, the extra measure of safety may give students a sense of security and offenders pause before they target our campuses again.
Private donations for a library?
Library trustees in Lombard are thinking out of the box when it comes to trying to raise money for a proposed building renovation. This week, they heard presentations from companies who say private fundraising is the wave of the future for tax-supported bodies. Seeking donations could be a long and difficult process. But at least it's an alternative to asking voters for a tax increase.
A nice how-do-you-do
It was a pleasant surprise for one of our soapbox writers to get a voice mail at home Monday afternoon from Jose Torres, who was named superintendent of Elgin Area School District U-46 earlier in the day. He said all the things you'd expect a new superintendent to say (he's glad to be in the district, he'll work with parents and staff, do what he can to raise test scores). It was not only a nice touch to leave the voice mail, it was an even better touch to leave the greeting in English and Spanish. It never hurts to make a good first impression.
And while we're on the subject
Dare we suggest U-46 officials should have had a contract in place before trotting Jose Torres out before the public? The school board has only approved a letter of intent to have a contract drafted. If Torres is unhappy with what the district offers, he can walk and the district will have egg on its face.
Just tell her -- better yet, go visit
Advertising everywhere reminds us Sunday is Mother's Day and we'd better hurry and buy jewelry, perfume and spa packages. But none of these offerings could ever be an adequate way to thank a mother for what she does best -- caring for her children with all her heart. It's sometimes hard to understand how important a mother is until you lose her. If you're lucky enough to still have a mother -- even if she drives you nuts half the time -- call her Sunday or get together in person. She doesn't need another pair of slippers; she wants to hear you appreciate all she's done for you.
Zero dollars per mile, redux
It's National Bike Month again, and have you noticed gas prices lately? They're much worse than they were a year ago. So again we offer this: May brings a reminder to get exercise, help the environment and save the wallet a little stress. Grab that helmet and head out into the fresh air. If it serves a dual purpose of getting you where you were going anyway, all the better.