Reader expects school board members at Resources meetings



In a recent Tribune article, the Resources for Results committee announced three public hearings will be held this April at each of the three middle schools to reveal the committee’s findings to the public and to ask for public input regarding those findings.

The Resources for Results committee has been meeting for almost three years to better allocate the schools’ resources and consists of members of the public, two school board members — Mrs. Rebecca Gardenour and Mrs. Lee Ann Wiseheart — and school corporation employees. Meetings have been closed to the general public to avoid the committee from growing to an unmanageable size and to facilitate consensus decision-making. Abbreviated meeting notes have been provided on the corporation Web site. However, school board members who are not on the committee have repeatedly mentioned during school board meetings that they are unaware of the details and discussions occurring during committee meetings because they (the school board) are waiting to hear final recommendations at the conclusion of the process.

Mrs. Wiseheart was quoted as saying, “the public will see that the findings affect everyone,” and adding that most of the committee’s time was spent looking at redistricting school boundary lines. I believe that Mrs. Wiseheart was making a very important point — the findings will impact every school, teacher and student in the corporation. Decisions that are made as a result of the committee’s findings will most likely be huge and will have a far-reaching impact to the corporation in the future. Decisions of this magnitude would warrant that the committee record each of the hearings, so the committee can review and incorporate public comments into their recommendations.

Since the general public is invited to attend these three public hearings and there was no mention of soliciting public comments after recommendations are made, I extend a public invitation to each voting member of the school board to also attend each of the three hearings to listen to the suggestions, opinions and concerns of each person who approaches the microphone firsthand. By doing so, wouldn’t each school board member be better equipped to make informed decisions when recommendations are brought to them for a vote by the Resources for Results committee?

No matter how lengthy these hearings become, I believe the general public is owed this consideration of school board attendance and look forward to seeing each and every voting member of our elected school board at all three public hearings. See you then!

— Brandi Tabeling, New Albany



‘Please scoop the poop’



Spring is in the air and so is the smell of dog poop!

As the weather turns warmer, many more of us are out walking our dogs. It just seems that while walking their dogs, many pet lovers may have left their manners at home. It’s a sad and disgusting reminder of how many irresponsible pet owners there are in our city. It’s not nice to leave those little turd bombs in others’ yards.

So I ask all pet owners to please not be a dupe, just scoop the poop. We all want to do our part in recycling and what a great use for those plastic grocery bags.

Please scoop the poop.

— Eddie Coleman, New Albany



Yes to smoke- free Indiana



The Indiana Legislature should enact a comprehensive law that protects all workers from exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor work spaces. Here’s why:

• Thousands of Indiana workers are exposed to secondhand smoke on the job.

• Secondhand smoke contains toxic chemicals and carcinogens.

• Exposure to secondhand smoke causes illness and death.

• There is no safe level of secondhand smoke.

• No ventilation system exists that will eliminate secondhand smoke from enclosed spaces.

• Workers in certain environments have high levels of exposure to secondhand smoke.

• Eliminating smoking in indoor workplaces eliminates secondhand smoke exposure there.

• Statewide smoke-free workplace laws protect all workers from secondhand smoke.

• States with smoke-free workplace laws report no negative economic impact from them.

• States with smoke-free workplace laws report improvement in several health indicators.

• It is fairly easy and cost efficient to implement a statewide smoke-free workplace law.

The logical conclusion is that the implementation of a smoke-free workplace law that covers all indoor workspaces is a relatively easy, cost-efficient method of protecting all Indiana’s workers from indoor workplace exposure to secondhand smoke and will likely produce improved health indicators throughout the state without having a negative economic impact.

Our legislators should enact a comprehensive smoke-free workplace law because failure to do so would be illogical, insensitive, inefficient and indefensible.

— Andi Hannah, registered nurse and coordinator of the Clark County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition



Reader show support to Lady Red Devils



To Chad Gilbert and the Lady Red Devils,

We’re so proud of you. You have represented your town, your school and your fans very well with a wonderful season of basketball. We love you, girls, win or lose. My family and I are looking forward to another wonderful experience with you next year.

— Wayne and Debbie Birchfield and Judy Dorman, Jeffersonville