I couldn't care less about who shows up. What troubles me is that nobody did.

The first explanation is probably the correct one. People show up when they're unhappy or want something. If they're basically satisfied, they don't show up to say "good show."

Plus there's the fact that these hearings are during the work day (although it would be difficult to schedule them otherwise).

but I do put part of the blame on the press for the apathy.

Schools should be more secure. Right. Easy enough.

But before communities assume the cost of 50+ more SRO’s, information like Columbine had a SRO and Newtown had security, would be helpful.

We don’t blink to spend on things we think we need, but the context on what’s needed only comes from the paper of record for many. A great deal of current government spending and cutting comes from knee jerk reactions instead of well thought out ideas and/or debate. Absent an objective and balanced press, knee jerk wins out.

"about this being the best solution to a local problem or if the extra $20+ million will be the best use of scholastic dollars for the next 10 years."

Really? Dead kids don't learn well. What you should worry about is the dead weight in Andrew Johnson, retired supervisors making $50 an hour "working" for KCS ( and still gettting retirement and a rubber stamping school board. In ohter words the continuak fiefdom building politics.