LETTER TO THE EDITOR
I attended the community meeting on the four day school proposal and was surprised at the low turn out. This is something I think people should be very knowledgeable about as this affects our community. Remember every action has a reaction and this one is no different. The savings to the school were presented but I don’t think people really understand the total effect as not all of us in the community are going to bear the blunt of it. All hourly workers associated somehow with the school will receive a pay cut and that alone is going to hurt those that need the work to support themselves. The bus company will get the biggest cut as we were told it alone would be cut by over 100 thousand every year. The owner of that company is now going to cut and reduce hours for the employees as he will have to cut expenses to make up for the loss. Some of his expenses are built in and can not be reduced. Families with small children who have working parents will be hit very hard as they will now need child care costs (if they can find them) plus additional transportation costs.
Those working at the school who are on salaries will not see any pay reductions but will need to work ½ hour each of the four days, Tuesday -Friday. Now I’m not attacking the teachers because I feel we have good Qualified teachers here now and I wouldn’t be able to do their jobs and commend them for teaching the students. I also do not know their stances on this action either.
One very important thing is students need social interactions. It’s what they really need once they venture out into the real world. Cell phones with Snap Chat which is a popular means of communication these days does really not replace face to face interactions. Home schooling does not enable children to do that either. They need to meet face to face to learn how to associate with people.
Benefits:
Student learning according to studies improved: From some of the studies I read after 2 years that was back to before. How does less time in the classroom improve learning Mn was in the top 10 as far as student scoring and has now dropped to 19th. I don’t really believe the scores will improve with one day less.?
Discipline issues went down: That should be true because now there in school one day less.
They were able to attract more teachers from other districts: Why! We all should understand that. If you are offered a Job with two additional hours in four days and receive the same pay as you now are making at your 5-day job would you turn it down? School sports activities held on Mondays would not be affected. I presume this to be practices for all sports. Which if true will result in extra traveling for some of the parents. There was a Principal there from another school district (MacCray) who presented some good they experienced by going to a four day week. She stated that a survey was taken among 9-12 graders at the school for going to a four day week and 98 percent approved of it. I thought it would be 100 percent.
Attendance was improved: Parents liked it because they now could schedule appointments on Mondays for their children for doctors, dentists, ETC. But they did that in Willmar, Mn. In Slayton you need a dental appointment almost a year ahead.
Students now could hold jobs: Again, in the Slayton area I don’t know if there are enough jobs available to cover the 300 plus students in the higher grades who have drivers license to be able to work. There are now over 300 students in lower grades that will be at home as I believe it was said there are approximately 750 students in the entire school.
These are just some of the points that were brought up and I feel should be looked at more closely. I realize that our taxes have greatly increased in the last few years but I don’t feel this is fair to place the total burden of this reduction on just a part of the community. I do have two teenagers in school so the change won’t really affect me that much. Thank You Richard Grogan Iona, Mn
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
To The Editor; Murray County citizens, businesses, and organizations currently have a great opportunity to support their local food shelves. The Murray Masonic Lodge in Slayton is conducting a fund drive to benefit Food Shelves in Slayton and Fulda. Nothing will be subtracted for expenses. All funds collected will go to Slayton and Fulda Food Shelves. All money will go to feed needy families in our area. Your contribution to help hungry families will realize two times the benefit with this drive! This is a great opportunity to make a major difference!
Last year, this drive raised over $15,671 for these two food shelves. A special “Thank You” to all who contributed to this special fundraiser last year.
If you decide to support this opportunity with a contribution, please make checks payable to Murray Masonic Lodge and earmarked for the “Food Shelf Project.” Also designate either for the Food Shelf located in Fulda or the Murray County Food Shelf located in Slayton. Send to Murray Lodge #199, PO Box 13, Slayton, MN 56172. Deadline to contribute is Monday March 31, 2025. Thanks for your support of this effort to improve the lives of qualifying county residents.
Tim Lange Murray Masonic Lodge 2744 Broadway Ave. Slayton, MN 56172
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
The community of Slayton and the surrounding area is facing a childcare crisis! For over fifty years, St. Ann’s Catholic Church has provided space for Wonder World Childcare. The parish now has need of that space for its own use. At times, the parish has subsidized the expenses of Wonder World because the rent didn’t cover everything.
Slayton has many important facilities and businesses that hire people who need daycare: school, hospital, court house, veterinary clinic and many others.
For the community to continue to thrive and attract new residents, we must have a childcare facility. So in the interest of the future of Slayton, we need to step up and do our best to fund one.
I have five grandchildren and three great grandchildren who were cared for at Wonder World. The parents of a new great grandchild are having difficulty finding an opening in daycare for their baby.
So I’m asking that everyone in Murray County - and beyond - do all that they can to support this need by making a donation to Wonder World. The cost to build a compliant facility is substantial, but it is also desperately needed An account for donations has been set up at MINNWEST BANK. Rosemary LeTendre
