CHEERS: For the Gilroy Unified School District and our community, big winners in the good news that came from recent school progress reports.

When it comes to public school performance, the dizzying maze of scores to contemplate is difficult to navigate. But let's not complain. Thankfully, there are measuring sticks in place and, in our community, cause for some well-deserved pats on the back.

It's easy to become cynical about public education. There are so many challenges, and coupled with doses of incompetence that are hard to forget, it's tempting to take the good news in stride.

But we won't. It is with great pleasure that we highlight the rays of sunshine in the district:

- In the state's Academic Performance Index for 2005, 10 of 12 GUSD measured schools made gains.

- Mt. Madonna Continuation High School made a ballistic 113-point jump.

- Antonio del Buono, El Roble, Las Animas and Luigi Aprea elementary schools made 20-plus point gains, as did Brownell and South Valley middle schools. Aprea's move from 842 to an outstanding 862 is particularly noteworthy.

- With the gains, a number of schools are within shouting distance 800-point benchmark put in place by the state. That's a far cry from just a few years ago.

Our thanks to teachers, administrators, students, board members and parents. GUSD is on the right track, moving on up.

JEERS: For whoever put a 40-ounce bottle of Steel Reserve malt liquor at the memorial for 18-year-old Victor Sandoval, who died while trying to leap the tracks in from of a train in Morgan Hill Wednesday night. Police said juveniles often gather at the location to party. Though it's not been determined yet that Sandoval was drinking on the night of his death, the placing of booze at the memorial is a tragically sad reminder of a life wasted. Connect the dots before it's too late. Boozing it up with "friends" leads to an empty bottle and an empty life.

JEERS: For the Valley Transportation Authority,

oft-criticized for inefficiency, deservedly, and off track. The latest cause for head shaking: a $511,830 audit. That's right, $511,830 to find out why the organization is inefficient. It's the height of Shakespearean irony. Why is it that the high-priced administrators hired to run VTA can't figure out ways to operate more efficiently? If they can't, fire them, and put together a team that can. This is a taxpayer nightmare. Dissolve the VTA. Put transportation in the hands of county supervisors.

CHEERS: For our little Gilroy princess, Caley Camarillo, and her family. Featured in today's and Friday's edition, Caley's joyful spirit in her battle against cystic fibrosis puts everything in perspective.

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