With the dawn of a new year comes a new list of resolutions for most and new Editorial Objectives from The Valdosta Daily Times editorial board. Since starting these annual lists a few years ago, there have been items we’ve seen succeed, some we’ve conceded as not going to happen, and others becoming matters for public discussion.
And that is the true goal of The Times’ Editorial Objectives. While we hope to check off a few of these items as accomplished this year, our prime objective is to increase public discourse on each item.
1. Expansion of the Lowndes County Commission.
An objective two years ago, this was dropped by The Times editorial board when squabbling among commission members and the legislative delegation derailed the proposed expansion. As one of their last acts on the commission, Edgar Roberts and Rod Casey helped to champion a vote to expand representation for the citizens of the community. The Times encourages all involved, from the new commission to the legislators, to agree soon on a map and the number of representatives and get it passed in the 2009 General Assembly so that voters have a say later this year in a referendum. The county can’t keep waiting for politicians to all be happy at the same time, while three commissioners attempt to adequately represent more than 30,000 citizens each. This is an action long overdue.
2. School System Consolidation.
For the sixth year, The Times is listing school system consolidation as an editorial objective. The community has made great strides toward the concept in recent years, with the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors behind moving forward on the issue. If our objectives are a matter of increasing public discourse, then school consolidation has been one of our most successful objectives, even if it does return year after year. A decade ago, few people would discuss the idea of consolidating the Valdosta and Lowndes County school systems. Now, it is the subject of studies, proposals and an ever-increasing amount of discussion. Now, this objective is making progress from talk into action. We look forward to more of both this year.
3. Lowndes County Courthouse Rejuvenation.
Once the new Judicial Complex is completed in the spring, the Lowndes County Courthouse will be largely unused. The annex behind the building will be torn down, thankfully, as it does not blend well with the 100-year-old historic structure, providing the community the golden opportunity to restore the courthouse to its original glory. The Lowndes County Courthouse will remain an architectural centerpiece to Downtown Valdosta. Let’s make sure it also remains a viable place in downtown’s history as it has been a vital part of Valdosta-Lowndes County’s past.
4. Library Expansion.
Despite disappearing state dollars, the South Georgia Regional Library system is in need of assistance to expand the main branch, keep all outlying branches open as much as possible, and to allow the main Valdosta-Lowndes County branch to grow. The library and its services, especially the computer facilities, have desperately outgrown the library’s Woodrow Wilson Drive site. Libraries are important to a region, which is why expanding the library returns to our list this year.
5. Use of Tax Dollars.
Tough economic times call for strict stewardship of our tax dollars. While sharing the largesse deserves scrutiny at even the best of times, a tighter rein on local government spending is an absolute necessity these days. The Times questions, for example, the city of Valdosta’s decision to award tens of thousands of dollars in Christmas bonuses at the end of 2008. At a time when companies are laying off and scaling their work forces back, perhaps a government body should not be distributing tax dollars in such a manner. The Times was told that the bonuses were included in the city’s budget for the fiscal year, and if that’s the case, perhaps the city should look at a different budgeting process this year. The Times believes tax dollars collected for city, county and school systems’ should be made to work in the citizens’ best interest and how these dollars are spent should be given the most careful of reviews by our officials as well as the public.
What We Think
OUR OPINION: Editorial Objectives 2009
- What We Think
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. -
Sports tourneys: They will come
More than 20 years after its release, “Field of Dreams’” mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” has possibly become one of the most overused lines from any movie. Yet, it seems all too fitting for what’s been happening lately within the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.
- More What We Think Headlines
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Grading policy: A second chance?
