letters

Minnesota’s taxes impact boomers’ retirement decisions Like many baby boomers I’m getting close to retirement. To me it’s important to be near my family but the state of Minnesota makes it very difficult to justify staying in the state any longer. I’m OK with paying taxes...

Questions and concern continue to grow regarding our school district. As administrators closest to the superintendent leave South Washington County Schools, one right after another, we are all left to wonder if the school board is doing its due diligence and checking into the real...

Afton kept hope alive for wedding venue business Rural and open space … that’s what Afton wishes to keep throughout the city. We offered a unique business opportunity to operate a seasonal wedding venue in our historic barn while maintaining the open space and rural qualities...

Gateway will bring jobs – for the government There is a growing threat to our economy through increased taxation by way of transit planning throughout the metro driven by the Met Council, county governments and the Federal Transit Authority (FTA). As a Citizen Advisory Committee...

I pulled into the Woodbury Lutheran Church parking lot on Friday, Dec. 20. Life had handed me a life threatening car accident that broke both legs, depleted my savings, and followed it up with a job loss. After relentlessly job searching, I had only $30 to my name and a single frozen...

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...