Congratulations, Newark School Board, for cutbacks

Newark School Board is to be congratulated for following up on the edict handed them by voters. They sliced 71 unnecessary jobs, along with some unnecessary programs and ordered families of students to pay fees for extra-curricular activities, which over the years have gotten out of hand.

I do not agree that students should have to pay fees for classes that are required, nor should bussing of students be cut back or eliminated, and I'll have more to say about that. But those, too, are part of the cutbacks.

Board members did what was expected of them - what had to be done - and they deserve our respect on that score.

These cuts reflect corrections on excessive spending practices of the past; nothing more. Nevertheless, what board had to do was not easy. The constituency had grown used to being spoiled and overfed with services supported by taxpayers.

Board members sliced off some of the fat and living in, and owning property here, just got easier and better.