School sets up memorial fund

The Sacred Hearts Academy ohana deeply appreciates the community’s heartfelt embrace and support in the days that followed the tragic deaths of Academy student Saundra Cass and her loving mother, Kristine.

The pain of losing them is intense. The Academy is very grateful for the caring assistance that our faculty, staff, students and families have received from Hospice Hawaii, the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, the Counseling and Spiritual Care Center, St. Francis Hospice, Chaminade University, St. Louis School and Kamehameha Schools. Many others have also offered their help.

Out of this senseless loss, and being that Saundra was herself a scholarship student at Sacred Hearts, Kristine and Saundra Cass’ fellow students and friends have established a Memorial Scholarship in their honor at Sacred Hearts Academy (3253 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, Attention: Randy Iwashita, business manager).

These two beautiful souls brought special joy and happiness into our lives. We cherish the time and love they shared with us.

Make sure rail is done properly

Gov. Linda Lingle is doing the right thing in reviewing the final environmental impact statement for the rail transit system. For her to do otherwise would risk having the rail suffer the fate of the Superferry. We want rail transit to succeed, but it has to be done the legal and right way.

Wilma L. Albano
Honolulu

Photo showed team’s low point

The Waipio Little League All-Star team brought a great deal of pride and joy to the people of Hawaii.

Winning five in a row to make it all the way to the final game was incredible.

And what picture does the Star-Advertiser put on the front page and online? Not one to make those boys proud. Not one to show our appreciation of their efforts. A photo that shows the low point of an awesome week.

You could and should have treated them with more respect. They earned it and they deserve it.

Best teachers deserve better

As an educator for more than 30 years, I was taken aback at the apparent lack of foresight in the proposed Race to the Top plan ("$75M Payday," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 25).

The way the article reads, there are 14 schools targeted for focused improvement and $18.7 million is planned as the allotment to turn these schools around. Yet they are planning to offer the best teachers a mere $3,000 yearly incentive to work in these schools. In addition, these poor folks will have to become 12-month instead of 10-month employees to get 20 percent more salary. This does not sound like it will entice anyone, and in fact it will likely insult these fine educators.

It is really time to wake up and recognize these folks in a meaningful way — for example, give them each $20,000 more a year over 10 months. These individuals work tirelessly, practically every waking hour, to meet the needs of their schools and the community.

Study seeks to make fees fair

A recent article entitled "City studies funding options for required sewer upgrades" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 26) inaccurately stated the intent of the proposed study and the details under consideration.

The study will review the current wastewater revenue program to ensure it fairly distributes the costs of current and future programs among system users. The study will not generate alternative ways to raise money for the necessary upgrades contained in the recent consent decree.

In the review of cost distribution, the study will examine the relationship between the current base and volume charges to define the appropriate mix to system use. A flat or fixed monthly sewer fee without a usage-related component is not an option.

The study will consider a possible clarification of fees to indicate where specific components of those fees originate and options related to sewer service charge impacts on low-income customers.

The city will continue to investigate grants and other financing alternatives to try and lessen future sewer fee increases; however, the wastewater system is a user-supported utility whose costs must appropriately be borne by its users.