Opinion
If starting teacher salary is too low, it’s the School Board’s fault, not the Supervisors–Ron Frazier
Commentary
By Ron Frazier
At the April 25 Board of Supervisors public hearing on the proposed 2008-09 school budget, one thing was quite evident. Most of the speakers obviously spoke with the idea that they were addressing the right board. But, many of the statements should have been directed to the school board not the Board of […]
A tale of two papal visits: Memories of John Paul, the rock star, contrast with Benedict, the rock in times of trouble
Commentary
By James P. Gannon
In October 1979, when I was the newly installed Executive Editor of The Des Moines Register, I had the privilege of accompanying Pope John Paul II to a tiny, rural parish of St. Patrick in Cumming, Iowa, during the pope’s historic first visit to the United States.
John Paul came to Iowa, the […]
RappVoice Poll produces strong vote against raising property taxes to fully fund requested school budget
An online survey of RappVoice readers produced strong sentiment against raising property taxes in Rappahannock County to provide the $470,709 increase in county funding requested by the county’s School Board.
In the poll taken between March 24 and April 14, of 646 total votes cast, 535 or 83% of respondents said no to a tax increase […]
A memo to our readers: On how life can rearrange one’s priorities
By James P. Gannon
If you have lived long enough you probably have noticed that every once in a while Life rises up and whacks you upside the head just to remind you that you are not in charge.
We got such a reminder this weekend when our priorities were rapidly reordered by a thing as mundane […]
Passing the hot potato: School Board budget goes to supervisors
Analysis and Commentary
By James P. Gannon
At a sparsely attended public hearing held March 18 on the proposed 2008-2009 school budget for Rappahannock County public schools, Flint Hill resident Bill Dietel gave the School Board some advice that’s worth pondering further.
Dietel, always a strong advocate of improving the public schools, told the five school board members […]
Should the Board of Supervisors raise property taxes to fully fund the requested School Board budget?
The Rappahannock County School Board has given its approval to a $12.1 million school budget for 2008-2009 that would require a $472,541 increase in funding from the county.
An increase of that size would require raising the county’s real estate tax rate by 3 cents per $100 of property value, unless the county could find offsetting […]