Foothill prom story should be an inspiration

To the editor:

Thanks so much for the very touching story of the Foothill High School students who invited some of their special-needs classmates to the prom who wouldn't ordinarily be included ("A special night," Sunday Review-Journal).

I applaud the ones who went out of their way to do something very special, and I thank you for putting the story on the front page. Excellent!

Karen Gunderson

Henderson

Move out

To the editor:

So Capt. Jeff Hurley wants to consolidate the North Las Vegas Fire Department with another department, thereby leaving North Las Vegas without a fire department to call its own (Sunday Review-Journal commentary). The city of North Las Vegas should grant Mr. Hurley his wish - and as he packs up, there are a few things he'll need to leave behind.

The fire trucks and equipment that North Las Vegas taxpayers paid for with their hard-earned money need to stay put, along with the fire houses. This way the residents and taxpayers of North Las Vegas can begin to hire and train new firefighters who actually live in the city of North Las Vegas. After all, most members of the current staff reside outside of our city and seem to care less whether or not the city has anything else but a fire department after paying them.

Eugene Sloane

North Las Vegas

Wet leg

To the editor:

Regarding the Sunday commentary, "Unions not the problem, willing to help," in which Jeff Hurley, president of the North Las Vegas firefighters union, portrays his organization as a lovable, agreeable bunch of folks who agreed to all of North Las Vegas' demands, and whose only goals beyond that are to save the taxpayers even more money:

Please, sir, don't urinate on my leg and claim that it was necessary because someday it might catch on fire.

If I negotiate with one or a group of employees, the goal of both parties should be to reach an agreement whereby the buyer and seller agree to both an amount the buyer is willing to pay, and the defined work the seller is willing to provide. That seems to have been accomplished in this case, and the credit should go to both parties.

But the "stipulation" introduced to the negotiation by the North Las Vegas firefighters union - consolidation with another department - is another matter altogether. Union officials represent that it is such a small thing, hardly worthy of notice. But by attaching it to the negotiated concessions, it is a ticking time bomb for North Las Vegas officials, and they were correct in their response.

Usually, consolidation is a matter carefully considered and agreed to by all parties. This gambit is simply another union attempt to position itself in a better bargaining position for next time, a time when labor officials can negotiate a much better deal with Las Vegas or Clark County, and then send the bill to North Las Vegas taxpayers. We have seen these types of "savings" in the past - in fact, such savings are the reason that companies such as Boeing are fleeing their home states for "fair labor" states in the South and Southeast.

North Las Vegas officials made the right call. In this case, North Las Vegas taxpayers should support them.

James Thomson

Las Vegas

On the cheap

To the editor:

In her Monday column, Jane Ann Morrison echoed many other union bashers by saying we need to dump old teachers and keep the best and brightest ("Whatever happens, layoff threats put credibility on line"). It boggles my mind that anyone can think a newbie right out of an education school is better or brighter or more experienced than a seasoned professional.

There is only one thing a new teacher can bring to the school district - and that is they are paid much less, have less vacation time and less sick leave. It is not about who's better or smarter, it is about who is cheaper.

Besides, does getting rid of us older workers include older columnists?

Peter Rustigian

Las Vegas

By the numbers

To the editor:

Numbers are interesting in that you can make them do almost anything you want.

When an arbitrator ruled in favor of the school district on the retirement contribution issue, not much was said. But when the recent ruling in favor of the teachers in regard to salary was handed down, district officials now want to abolish binding arbitration. Why? Because they didn't win and, like the spoiled brat in the neighborhood, they now want to take their ball and go home?

Currently, approximately 1,000 positions exist in the school district's email system, called Interact. District officials must now, of course, save face because they threatened layoffs, so the pink slips are going out. If they send out 1,000 slips, are we not going to fill 2,000 positions? This is highly unlikely. With folks leaving the district out of frustration or retirement, why don't we simply wait and see what the numbers actually are come August?

In addition, do we need all those cubicles at the West Sahara school district offices?

My only point is, why would an arbitrator, with no vested interest in Nevada, side with the teachers on salaries if the numbers weren't there? It just doesn't make sense. Especially in this economic climate.

Bad teachers need to be replaced. Fair evaluations need to be created. But let's look at all the numbers before we immediately assume the greedy teachers are the problem. Education starts with the teachers and the students. They are essential. Administrators are not. Come and visit our classrooms anytime, spend some time with us and see some of the good things that are happening.

Numbers sure are funny things.

Frank Russo

Henderson