School counselors worth weight in gold
Re: the April 17 article “Hectic schedules, no help status quo for school counselors.”
As a high school teacher, I read this story with keen interest. Overall, I think the writer did an admirable job. Having worked with two of the counselors interviewed, I can attest to the accuracy of this article. Like most teachers, I believe my school counselors are worth their weight in gold.
One crucial point that the article failed to make: When he first took office, Gov. Ducey was promoting the idea that we could “fix” our schools by eliminating what he and the Goldwater Institute called “non-classroom spending,” which includes these hardworking, caring professionals.
I’ve also worked in schools that don’t have guidance counselors; not a very pleasant experience for teachers or students. Please remember this article the next time you’re told that school districts are wasting taxpayer dollars “outside” your kids’ classrooms.
Bill Greenberg
Midtown
Cenpatico shouldn’t
manage these tax dollars
Re: the April 19 article “Café 54, at risk of shutting down after insurance cuts, seeks help.”
Coyote Task Force, one of the most respected providers of workforce training to people with mental illness, is at risk of closure.
Why this sudden challenge to a long-standing and successful community program? Because Cenpatico, a subsidiary of the for-profit Centene corporation, became the funding entity for these services last October. According to Y Charts financial information website, Centene’s gross profit margin posted at over 18 percent for the quarter ending December 2015, with similar quarterly trends going back many years.
For-profit companies do not belong in the business of managing and profiting from taxpayer dollars that are intended for the most vulnerable in our society. Cenpatico has taken an approach that reduces funding reimbursements, eliminates billing codes that have been accepted practice of their nonprofit predecessor for years, and brings about changes in practice that result in disentitlement of services.
This reduction in costs and services does not go back to the taxpayer or AHCCCS but lines the pockets of this for-profit Fortune 500 company.
Jan Wallace
Midtown
Proposition 123 is a shell game
Emboldened by the election to the governor’s office of Doug “The Flim-Flam Man” Ducey, the hucksters in the state capitol have embarked on their most brazen shell game to date.
So, here’s how the shell game (Prop. 123) works. Take money out of a trust fund set up to guarantee the education of future generations of Arizona children, and use it to rectify the shortfall in school funding created by the Legislature’s refusal to abide by the mandate approved by voters. This is clearly a case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, where Peter hasn’t even been born yet!
Please vote no on Prop. 123. Don’t reward these ogres for finding an easier way to take candy away from a baby.
Elizabeth Balsbaugh
Green Valley
County runs in circles instead of fixing roads
Re: the April 18 column “Pima County makes its case for more traffic roundabouts.”
I have lived in the Tucson area for 15 years and during that time I believe I have experienced two roundabouts. The experts say roundabouts will increase safety and traffic flow, but as each of us out there is dodging the poor pavement and potholes for our daily travels, we set ourselves up for potential accidents, plus poor pavement contributes to a stressful ride and more potential for accidents.
Increasing the efficiency of the flow of traffic would be enhanced by better roads in general, not by roundabouts, at a comparatively few intersections (estimated cost: $400,000 to $800,000 each).
It’s true, you can’t please all the people all the time, but practical sense should tell us to put our money where it benefits the most people.
It’s about time that Pima County avoids running in circles and repairs our roads. Let’s get around to reason and practicality.
Diane Uhl
Oro Valley
Limit the size of political signs
Re: the April 19 article “Senate approves vague measure on election signs.”
This is just an example of another example of wasted time by Arizona lawmakers. It’s vague and difficult to enforce. Instead, limit the size the signs can be. A huge sign flapping in the wind obstructing views angers me more than it sways my vote. Limit the info on them. Reading some is riskier than texting. Size limits will help reduce obstructions and views.
The signs are up way too long now. Let’s not double that. Strategically place your signs and limit how many you put up. I don’t want to see the same sign dozens of times in a 10-minute trip to the store. Such waste of campaign funds can sway me from voting someone into office. Restrict the size of the signs and how long they can be up so as to not make our corners look like dumping grounds.
Nancy Lyngby
Northwest side
