Dear Garretson Neighbors,
My husband and I moved to Garretson almost four years ago after working in Nebraska for 29 years. This move has allowed us to be closer to our families. It has also allowed me to finish my teaching career in South Dakota. (I started in Wessington Springs and Canistota – teaching three years in each community).
This is my fourth-year teaching Title 1 Reading at Garretson Elementary. I am thrilled to spend the last years of my career in a K-12 school building. The students, families, and staff have been a pleasure to work with. I love the feeling of community, and the school spirit that is an integral part of the size of the school - Blue Dragon pride is strong here!
I’d like to discuss the elephant in the room regarding the opt-out election. What will happen if this does not pass, and the Garretson Public Schools are $500,000 short for the 23-24 school year budget? Let’s look at an example working only with the amount of money the State Legislature allows us through state funds and the local tax levy. One way to save that money would be to cut three staff members this year and transfer money from the Capital Outlay Fund. Three additional teachers would need to be cut the following year to stay in the black after spending down the Capital Outlay Fund. Cutting six teachers from our current staff will result in students leaving the district. When students and families leave, we will get even less money to put into the school coffers. The outcome of students transferring out because of large class sizes and/or reduced programing would cause a downward spiral. I hate to be an alarmist, but if that happens, there most likely will not be a school in Garretson five years from now.
I’ve seen first-hand what happens in small towns across Minnesota and Nebraska when the local school is no longer operating. The K-12 school building I attended as a student has been torn down. Businesses closed because when parents weren’t bringing their kids to school/school events, they stopped buying gas, groceries, etc., in town. The local kids no longer play little league at the local ballpark, they travel to another town where their friends are playing. Many other changes occurred.
I’m not raising the alarm to save my job. I am eligible to retire if I need to or choose to. I am making this plea to you because of the students I have met in this district. They deserve to have a local school where they can have smaller class sizes, shorter bus rides and participate in all the activities that they do. I want them to be able to raise their children to be Blue Dragons. And I also want our community to continue to grow - both in population and in the business community.
This vote cannot be about bad feelings you may be harboring about the football complex being built 17 years ago, a beef with an administrator, or a decision made by a past or present school board. Your vote needs to be about the future of our students and community. Reach out, get your questions answered, make a tough decision, and then go out to vote on March 21st. Thank you for your time.
-Kim Macziewski
“Mrs. Mac”
