Thumbs up

We heard some sensible talk at water and school board meetings recently, and it was refreshing.

Andrew Cares, newly-appointed water board director representing Division 3, wants a more open line of communication with his constituents. Good for him. A public official should be accessible to the public.

We commend Cares for his suggestion, and we appreciate resident Gary Hurst’s commentary on the topic in last week’s Sentinel. Communication between public officials and the public they represent should be as open and direct as possible.

At the school district, good news came in Superintendent Robert Graeff’s report that the district is researching options for refinancing its long-term debt. With interest rates at an all-time low, Graeff said the possibility for significant savings exists. While it wouldn’t pay off the debt, the district could reduce its annual loan payments. The district also is considering the pros and cons of solar energy and is exploring ways to reduce its water and power costs.

With the failure of two school bond bids, one in 2012 and one in 2014, the district seems to be following the advice of some of our elected trustees to focus on how to function within its budget rather than put its energies into the next bond bid.