Between sighs of relief that the Deepwater Horizon oil well has at last been plugged, the Tribune-Herald editorial board focused on several issues this week, including taxes.

* Sunday we seconded Baylor University President Ken Starr’s appointments of three vice presidents for their competency, vision, experience and knack at forging relationships. We’re talking about Elizabeth Davis, Dennis Prescott and Kathy Wills Wright, who together reflect high aims of the new president. They confirm his vow to be inclusive of various Baylor constituencies and to relaunch ambitious fundraising pursuits.

* Monday we joined some Waco school leaders in guarded optimism in expanding the International Baccalaureate program at the Lake Air Intermediate, Tennyson Middle and Waco High schools this academic year. We share concerns about conflicting cost estimates and the state of preparedness needed to successfully implement this exceptional but rigorous program.

* Tuesday we pressed U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison to work in earnest in freeing a menacing Senate hold on Cornyn’s own bill designating the Waco Mammoth Site a national monument. We’d happily forgo federal funds involved in this. We just want that precious designation.

* Wednesday we paid homage to the late Ron Smith, an A.J. Moore Academy teacher who in 2004 started the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. It uses students to prepare thousands of tax returns for free. In doing so, Smith and his charges aided some of us in one of the most challenging and worrisome duties that we face as U.S. citizens.

* Thursday we voiced serious concerns about proposed cuts by the Texas Department of State Health Services that could harm services at community Mental Health Mental Retardation centers and spawn more headaches for our law enforcement agencies charged with finding patients mental care.

* Friday we urged that the Bush tax cuts be extended, if only for another year or two, to allow the business sector to fully catch its breath after a devastating recession. This might finally spur some significant hiring.