Last year, an eighth grader on her way to East Millbrook Middle School was struck by a car. The principal immediately asked the City to put a crossing guard on Spring Forest Road in front of the school. Months passed and nothing happened as the Mayor and City Council debated issues like new regulations on hot dog venders downtown. Then a few days ago, finally, the City responded with a half-measure, putting in a pedestrian stoplight. The principal is still working on getting his crossing guard.

All this is befuddling. Why can’t city schools get on Mayor Meeker’s radar screen as a government priority? Let me paint a picture for some aspiring candidate: Run for Mayor next year on a platform of making city schools your priority. Point out that the Mayor wants to spend $40 million to develop Dix Hill, but he hasn’t found a way to give Millbrook Middle School its crossing guard. Then just hope he says the schools are someone else’s responsibility.

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