Ruth Ellis
Staff Writer
rellis@lassennews.com
Feb. 1, 2011 — In the past several years, our local schools have been cutting and tightening the belt to keep up with the state’s education cut.
I have sat in meetings where superintendents and boards have had to present grim news and make some difficult decisions — lay off teachers and increase class sizes, minimize or cut programs and services, etc.
It’s not pleasant and I don’t think it’s going to get better anytime soon despite Governor Jerry Brown saying kindergarten through 12th grade education is exempt from his $12.5 billion cuts.
It sounds nice, but in actuality, administrators, chief business officers and teachers will possibly have to wait until June to see just how grim the education budget will be.
Barbara France
Managing Editor
bfrance@lassennews.com
Jan. 18, 2011 — Have you ever felt like turning around and heading back in time to the most idyllic time you can remember? I know I can’t really do that. Those times really only exist in my dreams, but I must say 2011 has not started off the way I’d prefer. The truth is the longer I am on this planet, the more death I see and have to process. Death is the juxtaposition to living, but for the first four days of the New Year I had a friend or acquaintance die.
On Jan. 1, a dear old friend of 88 died. He had been living in a nursing home for the past few years, and his health had been declining. We called him Grandpa Vern because he and his lovely wife Lila willingly would watch my youngest when we had youth pastoring events to go on. He was always smiling, and I know if he could he would say, “I’m home with Jesus; rejoice!”