“To lose the madness over the mountain and begin again.”— Colonel Ludlow, from the novel, Legends of the Fall.The Colonel spoke these words in reaction to his disillusionment with the government. He then decided to move his family to a remote part of Montana in hopes of shielding them from the madness.Many in the Butler area have contemplated seeking greener pastures, like the Colonel. The last couple decades have been lackluster when compared to the stories of the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s as told by the elders in the area. Reductions in industrial jobs around the city have brought on a period of austerity. This has resulted in the local government being strapped for cash and struggling to provide services for its citizens.Meanwhile, the rise of the opioid epidemic has proven to be the second part of a one-two punch that has many on their heels, wondering if it is time to metaphorically head “over the mountain.” Certainly, the successes of the communities in the southern part of the county must be a siren’s song to the weary.Nowhere has this dynamic played out more than in the Butler School District.For years, the district has been plagued with closing schools, rising pension obligations, stagnant revenues, furloughs, shrinking enrollment and poorly maintained facilities. At the same time, it has been challenged with teaching students about the dangers of drugs and providing services to students grieving the loss of a parent to a drug overdose.But, despite all this adversity, it would seem the district has regained its footing, as was discussed in Thursday’s Butler Eagle editorial. On Monday, the board passed a budget that seemed undoable just six months ago. The 2018-19 budget is balanced, does not contain a tax increase, has no furloughs, provides additional services (all-day Kindergarten) and does not dip into the district’s reserve funds.Mind you, the board did consider a modest tax increase. However, much to the surprise of any learned citizen, the tax increase was being considered to make the district even more fiscally responsible. As board member Suzie Bradrick pointed out, if the district saved up and paid cash for building maintenance projects, the district would save a lot on interest.In the end, however, the district decided to take a full swing — and knocked it out of the park. They gave the taxpayer relief, as they held the line on taxes. They gave the teachers and other employees comfort, as nobody received a pink slip. Best of all, the students are going to benefit from the increased investment in kindergarten.At that same meeting, they took the first step toward instituting a new drug testing policy. As indicated in the preamble of the policy, it seeks to “create an alcohol- and drug-free setting for all students and district employees.” This will foster a culture, within the school community, that identifies struggling students, helps them, and keeps the schools drug free.This movement toward a fiscally responsible and drug-free school district could be the beginning of better times for Butler. This budget sends a signal to the business community that the largest taxing body has its house in order. Will more businesses move into the area, like the Allegheny Health Network’s new cancer center or the new VA Outpatient Center? It seems likely. And drawing in these types of employers is a good move for Butler, as it tries to reinvent itself in a post-industrial era.If one still felt the need to head up into the mountains, even if just for a day trip, one would do well to stop by the quaint little town of Ligonier, down in the Laurel Highlands region. Ligonier has found a formula for success for a small town in the modern era, and it only has 10 percent of the population of Butler. Downtown Ligonier, known as the “Diamond” (sound familiar?), is peppered with specialty shops, mom and pop restaurants, and entertainment venues. It has one downtown hotel and a single screen movie theater, both of which are bustling on weekends. The local authorities offer free parking on Saturdays, and it is hard to find a restaurant that is not full of customers and mirth in the evening.So to those that have contemplated, like Colonel Ludlow, “losing the madness over the mountains,” we would challenge you to reconsider. Perhaps the “mountains” are the obstacles in our paths, such as austerity and drug use, and getting past them will help us “lose the madness.” Butler is poised to make a comeback — the core ingredients, like in Ligonier, are here.Perhaps, many decades from now, we will be telling our grandchildren about the roaring ’20s — the roaring 2020s, that is!

Leland Clark is a Butler attorney, parent and former member of the Butler School Board.