Laurels & lances: Learning, vetoes and curfews

Laurel: To a smart use of funding. Parents and educators alike can worry about learning loss — the information kids mentally misplace over the summer months between one grade and the next. But what about deficits suffered because of coronavirus responses?

The pandemic was tough on schools, starting with the March 2020 afternoon when they had to make a hard pivot from in-classroom teaching to distance education — either online or on paper. It continued for many schools — or many families — in the ensuing two school years.

Some are making use of federal funds allocated to states and trickling down to districts to combat losses being seen. Districts like Kiski Area, Norwin, Jeannette and Highlands are exploring ways to look at their students’ needs and fill the gaps with summer programs.

Lance: To a resounding no. Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald must think he is Gov. Tom Wolf. He’s getting really comfortable using his veto pen. This week he didn’t just veto one piece of legislation from the county council. He did it twice.

He shot down a proposal that would give council more oversight to salaries that have been the prerogative of the executive. It’s a move that came after Fitzgerald approved huge raises for some of his top staffers over a three-year period that will have the potential of costing taxpayers even longer due to the effect on pensions. That one is unlikely to be overturned as council doesn’t appear to have the votes.

Fitzgerald also vetoed the ban on fracking in county parks — and followed it up with a defense of fracking that compared misjudging energy companies to sexism, racism or homophobia.

That veto has a chance of being overturned as it passed by a vote of 11-4.

On the watch: To a well-meaning attempt. Jeannette has a curfew for minors even if their parents don’t. Home by 11 p.m.

It’s been around for longer than most people can remember. It was last reviewed in 1943. An update is being proposed that would radically increase penalties. Officials say there have been noise complaints and problems because the curfew is being disregarded and they want to give it some “teeth.”

But will that provide the bite the council wants or potentially a bigger chunk than intended?

Right now the fine is $10 for the kid who breaks the rules. If an adult is encouraging or allowing it, they get a $25 fine — although if kids are with their parents, that’s one of the permitted exceptions, along with work, school or religious activities and emergencies.

The change would start fines at $50 to $300 for a first offense, working all the way up to $250 to $1,000 for the third time or more. The fine would apply to a child or parent.

There is nothing wrong with updating the fines. Everything else is more expensive than it was in 1943.

But there should be care taken so that this doesn’t get out of hand. There is a potential to have fines that are excessively high snowball into warrants for non-payment and then things get sticky fast.