letters

If I could, I would, but I can’t because I do not live in Minnesota. Therefore, I am doing what I can. My name is Tiffany and I am writing to share with the voters of South Washington County School District 833 some insight on why they should vote for Sharon Van Leer. I have...

I was among those who attended the League of Women Voters District 833 School Board candidate Forum on Oct. 22. It was a very worthwhile use of my time. Best as I recall, 11 of the 16 or so invited candidates showed up. Because there were so many of them, they had precious little...

My name is Heather Oguamanam. I was a foster child in the Van Leer’s home from age 2 to 6. Sharon Van Leer and her family welcomed my two sisters and I and showered us with love and open arms. The Van Leer family played a vital role in shaping the values I carried into my adulthood....

As we near an election it is time to remember that as a school district we have the opportunity to invest in our community and schools. Schools reflect the community while communities reflect the schools. Our housing values often mirror the success of its schools. So on Nov. 5 our...

As a member of the Citizens Financial Advisory Committee, we meet regularly with ISD 833 staff to review the school district’s finances and budgets. You can find the facts and figures at: www.sowashco.k12.mn.us. This is why you should vote YES on all three ISD 833 referenda questions. The...

Members of the Stillwater Area School Board unanimously agreed on the levy question that will be on the ballot Nov. 5. We stand united and ask you, the voters, to stand with us to continue the excellence of Stillwater area schools. As board members, we are held accountable to maintain...

As state legislators representing districts that include South Washington County schools, we support the three questions on the ballot Nov. 5, as an important step in providing the education every student needs and has come to expect from District 833. While the Legislature has...

I would like to ask the community to review each School Board candidate as well as remember some of the issues from the last three to four years. There are a number of good new candidates. Our district has experienced some complicated issues and it may be that some new leadership...

I am writing this letter to recommend John Griffin for the South Washington County School Board. I have known John for over nine years as a community-first person with a great interest in helping the young people of the district. I have seen first hand how John has volunteered...

You will not have a great community without great schools. We live in a wonderful community with terrific schools, but our schools need some help. On Nov. 5, the district will be asking us to support a three-question referendum. Question 1 is simply to renew what we have been paying...

I hope every voter in the school district exercises their civic duty and makes it a priority to vote in such an important local election. It’s critical that we, as residents of the entire south Washington County area, deliver a clear message to School District officials by casting...

This Nov. 5, voters throughout the St. Croix Valley have an important issue to decide: whether to maintain our outstanding educational opportunities for our community’s children or do we allow our community to slip into mediocrity by voting “no” to maintaining a reasonable school...

Parents, you really need to wake up in Woodbury. I want you to really think about this proposed app called BBIR that South Washington County School District wants to put in play. I am not down-playing bullying, but we really have to go back to basics of teaching our children how...

As a retired superintendent of schools of the South Washington County Schools, I want to share a few thoughts about the upcoming school board election and one of the finest individuals I have come to know during my time in the district. Sharon Van Leer has a long history of positive...

There’s no denying it - I’m a very active, liberal Democrat. And yet over the years, I’ve voted for several school board members who are active, conservative Republicans. And that’s because what’s best for our schools does not lie in partisan politics. Rather, it lies in...