DOE makes better progress on misconduct cases

Limbo is not a good place for anyone to be left, and it does appear that the state Department of Education is improving on that front.

The department has struggled to manage its backlog of misconduct cases: In 2014, 63 investigations were pending at the close of the fiscal year. But this year, there were only 37 staffers still awaiting final disposition.

Of those getting resolution, the news was good for four, who were cleared. Five were terminated and one resigned instead of being fired.

The news was all good for the taxpayers, footing the bill for fewer employees on paid leave.

Yet another look at interisland ferry service?

The Superferry is long gone, but the headache remains.

The state ended up with a $71 million bill for infrastructure and financing, of which $32.6 million remains to be paid off, more than eight years after the Superferry make its last sailing through a hail of legal challenges and public protests.

Still, the allure of an interisland passenger ferry is powerful. State and federal funds, about $550,000, have been allocated to study the feasibility of another ferry service.

Let’s be more careful this time.