Columns

From Senior Dining There was a lot of scurrying around at the dining site as a committee made up of diners and myself made plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Senior Dining in Kimball. Our site is the only original site in Central Minnesota still open. Many hours were spent reading and/or looking through…

Legislative Updates I?Äôd like to keep you informed of the most recent updates in the legislative session that started in late February. Last week marked the first deadlines for all bills that are expected to move forward with their respective committees in either the House or Senate. Bills that haven?Äôt been heard yet have a…

Skills for Success I recently read an article from our service cooperative that focused on the development of critical skills necessary for future success. It?Äôs hard to believe, but our students will one day have jobs that currently don?Äôt exist. The research is pretty clear about what students will need to know and do in…

Legislative Update Despite a significant budget surplus of just over $1.2 billion, the prospects for additional education funding this session are low. As educators, we are hopeful that our elected officials will recognize the need to pay for implementing the Minnesota mandated principal and teacher evaluations, facility improvements, and equalization aid to assure all students…

I found myself humming a tune I?Äôd heard on the radio, ?ÄúI came in like a rainbow?Ķ. La la la de da?Ķ.?Äù Like many songs, most of the words eluded me, but I sang the ones I knew for sure. Over and over ?Äì the rainbow. I came in like a rainbow. Yes I did.…

This is the second week of the legislative session and committees hit the ground running with the first committee deadline just two weeks away. Proposals are starting to emerge to deal with the $1.2 billion surplus with growing support to repeal controversial business-to-business taxes passed last year. Other big issues expected to be a focal…

Live. Love. Laugh. Stop and smell the roses. See the glass as half full. Shoot for the moon. There are the familiar (clich?©) activities we know we should engage in more often. But, for those of us not wanting to be clich?©, there are others. Everyday things that can become elevated by how we approach…

Legislative Update On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Minnesota?Äôs 2014 Legislative Session convened in St. Paul and lawmakers came together to work on a number of issues. A few of the bigger topics the House and Senate will tackle this year include the Bonding bill, tax reform, Safe and Supportive Schools Act, and an increase in the…

Legislative Update The 2014 legislative session began on Tuesday, Feb. 25, and concludes on Monday, May 19. There are a couple of key items that I?Äôd like to share with you. The Safe and Supportive Schools Act (anti-bullying bill) will be a hot topic in this session. Keep in mind that the Eden Valley-Watkins school…