The following three letters appeared in the September 10 issue of the Walsh County Record...
Reader says, vote ‘Yes’ and ‘Yes’
As a parent, a teacher, and a
local taxpayer, I am writing to urge other community members to support the
Minto School Building Improvement referendum vote to be held on September 23.
As a parent of a senior (who will
not benefit from this referendum), I
understand the concerns of other parents about sending their child to
school. We all want the best education
possible for our kids. Minto School has
worked hard over the last few years on providing a curriculum for all students;
both the ones that need to be challenged and for those students that need
remedial or special services. I appreciate this. But parents also want to know that their
child is learning in a safe, inviting, and adequate environment. Would you want your child to be taught while
sitting in a doorway, in the hallway, or even on the stage in the gym? Can they really learn in this setting? This has been happening for years and should
be unacceptable. Our students deserve
better.
As an experienced teacher (in
several districts and states), I understand the ‘needs’ of a school district
versus the ‘wants.’ The district is not
asking for anything above and beyond what they NEED to update an old building
and provide our current and future students an appropriate learning
environment. Teachers should not have to
figure out how to carry out a lesson plan while working with students in a
hallway or on a stage (those students will not learn as much as they should
with the distractions inherent in the situation, no matter how good the lesson
is). Community members expressed all
kinds of ideas (‘wants’) at the planning meetings. We all want more; and it would be great to
have a large, state of the art, modern school building! This is not what this referendum is asking
for. It is asking for basic updates to
an old building that will provide adequate ventilation, accessible facilities,
and space for teachers to do their job so that all students can learn.
As a taxpayer, I understand the
hesitation on the part of patrons that do not have students in the district
about paying more taxes on their property and land. This will cost all us more. Times are uncertain and we all have endured
higher costs of living. We have to ask
ourselves, is it worth it? Do they
really need this? What should the cost
of education be in our community? If we
don’t pay now, what will the cost be in the future? Please consider what the cost would be to the
community if the school were to close; this has occurred in other small towns
in the region with very negative consequences.
There should be no higher priority than providing our young people a
good education. Keeping it local (rather
than paying it somewhere else) will pay dividends for our community well into
the future.
Both of my sons have received an
excellent education through the Minto School District because of the dedication
of the teachers and staff. This is
becoming increasingly difficult for them to do because of the condition of the
school building itself. Now is the time
to change this. It truly is Our Town,
Our School, and Our Responsibility; Now and in the Future. So please votes Yes
and Yes on September 23 at the high school in Minto (9:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.).
Mary Stanislowski
Minto
We
CHOSE Minto
I feel that my story of residing here is a
bit unique from many others who live in the Minto area. My husband and I did not grow up here, nor do
we have any relatives (let alone multiple generations) in this area. My family moved here eight years ago when my
husband was relocated for his job. Our “assignment”
was Grand Forks. We searched for a home
in and around Grand Forks. We CHOSE
Minto.
Why did we choose Minto? Minto was the small town that we wanted to
call home, not another house on a way to another relocation. This community held out open arms to us. Early on we witnessed the kindness and
generosity of this community. This was a
group of people who were proud of their community and heritage.
Now eight years have passed since our
arrival. Our children are growing and
attend elementary school in Minto. Through
these years we have continued to witness the beauty of this community. Whenever there was a need in the community of
Minto there was an outpouring of support by individuals, families, businesses
and organizations. It touches my heart
to see this generosity.
Now the need before the community is to
address the physical deterioration of their school building. The School Board is asking for the help of
this community to support a $5.8 million School Improvement Plan which is
imperative in saving the aging building that our children are in.
I will not claim to be an expert on building
or structural issues and maintenance, but even I understand that the best
maintained roofs, windows and heating systems need replacement. Many materials in the school building have
outlived their useful life. I want the
asbestos removed from the building that my children attend. I want the bathrooms and the building to be
accessible for all who have special needs or disabilities including teachers,
students and guests. I want ALL children to have equal access to quality
education in proper learning conducive classrooms.
I deeply believe in the experiences I have
had in Minto that this community will rally together and support this School
Improvement Project for the health and safety of our children and for the
future of our community.
Please come out and vote YES on the two
ballot questions on September 23 from 9am-7pm at the Minto High School Library.
Lynn Lane
Minto
Minto School Board urges 'Yes' vote
This fall, area residents have been discussing a strategic
plan to improve the quality of school buildings for Minto School District. This plan was developed after months of
community input, community meetings and professional advice. On September 23rd, the Minto School Board
encourage all residents to support this plan by voting yes on two ballot
questions.
The first will ask whether we want to make new investments
in replacing our outdated school infrastructure including roofing, windows,
doors, heating and ventilation systems.
It will also allow us to add needed space for our early learners and
students with special needs, many of who now are now taught in the commons,
doorways and libraries. This referendum would
provide the funding to pay back school construction bonds.
The second vote will give the district the ability to raise
our debt level to enable the ability to secure the bonds needed for the
construction.
We are convinced that most residents agree we should
continue to invest resources to improve the quality of our schools. But we don’t take that support for granted –
residents should support this plan because it will provide great value for
students, teachers and the community of Minto for every dollar spent.
Significant
investment is needed to improve the facility.The school District at this time has
the opportunity to access historically low interest rates from a school
construction fund set up by State of North Dakota, along with a recent
significant drop in overall property tax rates, as well as an expected
escalation in overall construction costs, make this a favorable time for Minto
residents to consider these changes.
We believe
this vote on September 23rd represents, a vote for the future of
Minto Schools. Investment in our school
facility is needed to renew our facility assets, preserve our current operating
budgets and in turn, to ensure Minto School continues to offer competitive
educational opportunities and remain a strong cornerstone for our community.
We hope you take the time to get more information on the
plan at www.Minto.k12.nd.us or by calling the
district office at 248-3479. Please support
Minto Schools and the Minto community on both ballot questions on September
23rd.
Doug Ulland-President, Kristin Stoltman, Rod Osowski, Brad
Narloch, Brian Dauksavage, Helen Zikmund, Gary Slominski
Minto School Board
