Government schools and firefighters

To the editor:

Issue 1: In last Saturday’s News-Gazette, Mr. Daly had his heart in the right place but his facts were suspect. In 2005, I calculated the “taxpayers” cost of Osceola County public education to be $19,000 per student, per year. The cost after we figure in the 25-30 percent dropout rate was much higher. Yes, private school tuition costs are many times less than a government-run education and several degrees more effective. Public education (K-12) is nothing more than a baby-sitting exercise with some education thrown in to make it look like school. We have to completely and drastically rethink public education methods, and those methods will look nothing like we have now. The methods we have today are ancient, increasingly expensive and meant only to prop up job titles and political aspirations. It has little to do with education.  

Issue 2: There is one other “methodology” to firefighting fees. At what point do the fees surpass insurance costs and the replacement cost of the building in question. There is a point there where firefighting fees is not worth the cost. I understand. I know everyone wants the same deal the United Auto Workers has, but that is history now. No longer will it be possible for people who can’t afford their own retirement to pay for yours. If that is what you want, there might be time to apply for a job with Osceola County (or state of Florida) where you can retire, get a pension and then go right back to your job – nearly doubling your previous income. I imagine that is not going to last either, so hurry.

Issue 3: Please drop the train to nowhere idea. It is exorbitantly expensive and I have yet to hear exactly how it benefits the broad, super majority of taxpayers. I agree with expansion of public transportation, but the choo-choo idea should be trashed. Yes, I have better ideas.

Issue 4: I do not care how safe the engineers say it is, no one wants Gulf crude oil debris dumped in Osceola County over a very large aquifer. Very, very bad idea. Who approved that one?

Michael Hall
Kissimmee

Fixing problems

To the editor:

This letter is to inform Kissimmee residents that they should not go before the City Commission looking for answers to a specific local problem. A commissioner’s primary function is to conduct city business and not individual complaints.

Having said that, I would appreciate it if a resident does come before the commissioners that they refer them to the department they need to contact in order to resolve the problem.

It recently came to my attention when one resident was concerned about the increase of airport noise that they were dismissed with a remark that it did not bother one of the commissioners. The resident did not come before you for your personal opinion. The resident came to you for advice.

I hope this rectifies any further inquiries from the public.

Bernice Staton
Kissimmee