Events in two school districts in Lycoming County recently have left us concerned.

When Loyalsock Township School District recognized the need to lock down a campus and have armed state police patrolling its perimeters, we unfortunately found the district and the state police to be reticent with information.

We respect that Loyalsock Township School District took the necessary steps for safety and to keep parents aware of the situation — but many people live around the school in question and due to the difficulty in getting thorough, comprehensive information from either the district or the state police, were left unaware of the nature of the incident.

Or worse, with incomplete information that can only fuel speculation and misinformation.

Williamsport Area School Board, shortly after, approved a contract extension for the district’s superintendent. The Sun-Gazette had to reach out to personnel the following day to determine what annual salary Dr. Timothy Bowers would be paid.

Your school board seems to have taken a vote to commit $218,000 a year to one salary without ever, at that meeting, openly discussing or even acknowledging that was the sum in question.

Does this strike you to be the due diligence taxpayers should expect from elected officials?

For both of these school districts, a reminder seems to be in order: As long as you are funded by tax dollars, you owe it to the public to act in as transparent a manner as you can.

In both of these instances, we regret that the school districts fell short.

We hope in the future, all the school districts in our region and state can acknowledge and appreciate the taxpayers who ensure they can function — and will demonstrate a greater commitment to keeping them informed.