• School attendance, taxes, cell phones cause for concerns

    I want to take this moment to express my appreciation for the efforts of Mankato School Board member Kari Pratt and Supt. Paul Peterson in advocating for cell phone bans. While I hold reservations, the advantages of such bans outweigh the drawbacks. Students often face disturbances and show reduced engagement with teachers and peers when…

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  • Exchange students enhance cultural learning

    I had the privilege of meeting with Mankato Area Schools Supt. Paul Peterson on June 30. Our discussion revolved around enhancing curriculum and improving communication to serve the needs of students and teachers better. I was deeply moved during our conversation when Supt. Peterson expressed how my letter to the editor about my exchange students…

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  • Maple River’s dedication to exchange student appreciated

    Over the past eight years, my family has embarked on an educational journey. Our experiences range from hosting exchange students to pursuing studies abroad in Spain, participating in homeschool co-ops, attending Mankato public schools and facilitating our children’s early college experience via dual enrollment options at South Central College and Minnesota State University. Our most…

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  • School district data should be released

    In September 2021, the Mankato School Board approved a revised set of “vision cards,” which outline the district’s goals in various areas, such as student test scores, attendance, and financial savings. The Mankato Free Press reported that these documents would be updated annually with measurements of how close the district is to achieving each goal.…

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  • Allow teachers freedom of speech

    I greatly appreciate Holly Marie Moore’s article, “Mankato teacher felt ‘overwhelmed’ before leaving.” As community members, we are responsible for being engaged and informed about our student’s safety and education. There are no better people to learn from than our teachers and former teachers. It was great to hear from Kari Pratt and Doug Mullins…

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