SCHOOL DISTRICT

I find it unbelievable and outrageous that a newly-elected member of the school board (and a longtime Vashon schoolteacher, no less) states in the April 4 Beachcomber article “Facing deficit, school district may cut staff” the following: “We care deeply for our staff and students” while in the same meeting considering a salary increase to the superintendent, already one of the highest-paid people on the island.

Why is cutting staff (and/or programming) the default to “balancing the budget”? Why not ask the very well-paid superintendent to pass on his salary increase — or even take a salary cut?

Continuing to expect our stressed-out staff and students to bear the brunt is not the answer.

For those who haven’t read it, this opinion piece in the April 5 New York Times is essential reading regarding the current crisis in education.

Clearly, there is serious need for change in education. The future of our children depends on it.

Emily Herrick

REAL ESTATE

Dear Vashon real estate agents,

Please refrain from putting flyers in our mailbox and parking at the end of our driveway to peer up at our house appraisingly. We’re not ready to sell our house, and your attention makes us uncomfortable.

Thank you.

Cynthia Phillips

TECHNOLOGY

I’m six feet, three inches tall. I know we’re supposed to buy American, but I’ve never found an American car that I could get in or out of without bumping my head.

I’ve been flying kites since I was four years old, but they were all made in Japan. Twenty years ago I bought a couple of kites made in the U.S. I couldn’t get either kite to fly.

My parents had a toaster that lasted 43 years. We bought a toaster two years ago that lasted, yeah, two years.

I bought a Hoover vacuum cleaner that has an indicator that should turn red when it’s time to change the bag. It didn’t, the bag got too full, and the latch that holds the vacuum together snapped.

I called and asked them for a new latch. They sent me a new vacuum cleaner, the same model. I guess they’ve got money to burn. So now I’m wondering if the indicator is going to work, or if the new latch will snap too.

We have a very fancy refrigerator with a handle made of plastic, 1/16 of an inch thick. I figured the handle would last about a year. Damn it, I hate it when I’m right.

It seems like today, the only way you can get your money’s worth in this country is if you don’t spend it. I know it says nothing about it in the Constitution, but shouldn’t the great captains of industry be required to trade you something of value for your hard earned dollars?

Shelley Simon