Merry Christmas
On behalf of the Eden Valley ?Äì Watkins School District faculty and staff, I want to thank you for working with us. Our schools have worked very hard to meet your expectations in providing a quality education that is safe and nurturing. We also take pride in our work and our profession, and continually explore new ideas, concepts, and practices that will prepare your child for the future demands of this global economy.
All of us at the Eden Valley-Watkins School District want to wish you a Merry Christmas. As I look back at the past five years of service to the district, I?Äôm thankful for the passionate service from our dedicated and talented staff, the community partnerships we?Äôve forged, but mostly the opportunity to share in the developmental process of our future leaders. As we take a break and rejoice in the holiday season, we will also be looking forward to another successful year in 2017 working with you and your families. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Legislative Update
After seven months of ineffective dialogue and political posturing back and forth on whether or not to call a special session for the 2016 Minnesota Legislature, the verdict finally came in last Friday. Governor Mark Dayton and House Speaker Kurt Daudt simply couldn?Äôt find the common ground they needed to get the job done. That puts the Ag2School credit proposal that originally passed in the tax bill, among educations top priorities going into the 2017 session.
There?Äôs plenty of blame to go around, but it seems as though the size and scope of the tax bill, bonding bill, and the buy-down of MN-Sure insurance premiums proved to be an insurmountable challenge for law makers. Sadly, these issues and costs won?Äôt be going away and the public is forced to manage the negative impacts. This sounds like a calling for a good old-fashioned compromise. Where a settlement of differences can be reached if each side is willing to make concessions, parties meet at the midpoint, and the negotiators set their special interests and egos aside to conduct business in the best interest of the public.
The impact of losing the Ag2School credit on rural education is disheartening. Our educational and agricultural advocates will be pushing for the Ag2School credit in the 2017 tax bill. Please talk with your area legislators and let them know that the assessed values on Ag land is making it difficult for rural Minnesota schools to renovate or rebuild facilities.
EV-W District Spotlight
The EV-W School District would like to recognize our Board Clerk, Shelley Kern. Shelley has served the EV-W school district and board for 13 years. Her responsibilities and assignments include the duties of board membership, clerk, and she?Äôs an active participant serving on all of the negotiations committees. Shelley has been a top-notch board member as she provides a wealth of educational and parenting experiences and knowledge to the decision-making process. She comes to meetings open-minded, actively engaged, remains objective, and casts her votes in the best interest of the students at Eden Valley-Watkins. We wish Shelley the very best as she completes her distinguished service to the EV-W School Board and District. Thank You Shelley!
Classes will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 3.