The definition of an understatement - Housing is a complex issue. The respected New York Times used Lafayette’s controversial The Terraces/Deer Hill development, opposed by the citizen group "Save Lafayette, as a poster child to ask – how does a community do its part to address California’s housing need and can it or should it strive to maintain the character of its community?
The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country believes that some form of education, provided by public schools or other state-approved institutions, should be mandatory for all children. The primary role of the public school should be to enable students to master the basic skills as well as the physical and social sciences, to teach the fine arts, to foster critical and creative thinking, to promote good health and physical fitness, and to provide foreign languages and vocational education for those who desire them.
The League believes it is possible to measure whether a quality education is being provided and whether schools are accomplishing their goals. Parents, teachers, and the community should work as a team to help children learn, encouraging higher standards of achievement.
The League supports adequate financing to provide maximum educational opportunities for all children in the tax-supported schools of Houghton County. Support for each millage or bonding proposal will be evaluated by applying listed criteria.
The League supports the concepts of consolidation, annexation, and cooperative programming. The League also supports creative research for methods to maintain, finance, and improve existing small schools.
The League recommends that school board members receive training and that employees of a school district not serve on its board.
The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country supports the construction of a new Houghton County Jail building (to replace the facility in existence as of 04/2007) with adequate facilities for functional, cost and energy efficient, secure operation in compliance with State Administrative Rule requirements, as set forth in the Rules for Jails, Lockups and Security Camps. LWVCC supports comprehensive planning to include the needs of the offices housed in the historic Courthouse, including Administrative offices, the Courts and also the administrative offices of the Sheriff's department as well as the Jail.
Adequate funding for coordinated regional and local public transportation, which provides access to area education, employment, health care, mental health care, government, and food/shopping centers to population centers and rural residents alike.
Three guest speakers will join in covering the topic, “Health Care in America: The Plans Explained,” at the League of Women Voters of Western Nevada County’s program on Saturday, February 8 from 10:00 a.m.
