Letters

Fodor Homes

New funding solution must be found soon

As a resident of Lake Forest Park and the parent of an autistic spectrum child in the Shoreline school district, I have followed the recent events leading up to the closure of several Fodor Homes with particular interest.

One of the issues raised in opposition to the expansion of Fodor homes was the financial impact on the school district. If this is the case, then perhaps we need to develop a means of offsetting this burden rather than using it as a reason to get rid of these homes.

If the districts that serve a disproportionate number of special needs students are being asked to foot a disproportionate portion of the cost of educating these children, then perhaps we have a problem with the way this funding is being distributed at the state level. Regardless of the other problems Fodor Homes was experiencing, this issue would be a major obstacle toward any similar organization’s success.

We need to come up with something better than shutting down the homes and moving these children into living situations that are not adapted to their needs. We shouldn’t compromise the quality of therapeutic educational services these children or the other children in their district receive. If a district provides good services, then parents will move there to get their children into those programs. The economics of a district may also impact the quality of services they offer. It would make more sense to offer incentives to the schools to who provide quality appropriate services to their children, and to groups like Fodor Homes to serve a number of like children in a proximity oriented setting. This could end up saving us all money in the long run.

SHANNON REYNOLDS

Lake Forest Park

Shoreline politics

A council representing all is the best hope

Following incorporation the organization Vision Shoreline disbanded. Progress Shoreline was formed to fill the void left by Vision Shoreline and complete the vision that they had started.

Progress Shoreline is an organization with hundreds of members and supporters. It includes Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Some are wealthy; some working class poor. Our members include community activists and leaders of their neighborhood associations, members of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Sierra Club and so on. We are not anti-environment, anti-neighborhood and do not support unrestrained development.

Because our membership comes from a diverse background, they do not march lock-step to the tune of any individual or political ideology. We cannot and wouldn’t attempt to control actions of all our members. The lawsuit regarding violations of the Open Public Meetings Act was filed by three individuals. The Recall Petition was filed by six different individuals. Progress Shoreline has discussed both issues, but didn’t believe there was a strong consensus within the organization to support either action.

Elaine Phelps, Bronston Kenney and others have used lies and innuendos to discredit Progress Shoreline and further their own political agenda. Progress Shoreline Co-Chairs Scott Jepsen and Paul Grace have suggested that Mayor Bob Ransom should restrain his supporters from misusing the public comment period at council meetings for political commentary. The public comment period is for the purpose of communicating with the council on issues concerning city business. Opponents of Progress Shoreline are using this time for other purposes and their statements are aimed at an audience of home television viewers.

Among other things Progress Shoreline is a PAC and will continue to support candidates that share the vision that our city can be a much better place. We need a city council that represents all citizens.

STAN TERRY

Shoreline

Community

Company shows it cares about family

In this day and age of big business and focus on profit I am delighted to pass on to Qwest telephone company a big thank you for their gracious and important contribution to our family.

For the first time in U.S. Diving three of a family placed at Junior Olympic Nationals and are now ranked among the top divers in the nation. Those three are my two daughters and son, and so I want to thank Qwest, the company that my husband works for, that gave him the time to travel with his children.

This corporation should share the children’s achievements. Rich Radunz and other managers at Qwest have always encouraged my husband as a father, telling him family and community time is so important to our future. We have to work together in helping to make all of our children good citizens.

CAROL YOUNG

Shoreline