To the Editor,
Hello, my name is Greg Smith. I am a graduate of Rushford High School. I was on the Board of Directors of the Rushford-Peterson School District. I was on the Board for eight years prior to building the new school. We qualified for state cost share on building a new school because of the damage from the August 2007 Flood to our tax base. As part of the original agreement of building a new school, we were able to get an agreement with the state, where the state would cover approximately 55% off cost of building a new school. When we, the School Board, the School Administration, and the State of Minnesota, negotiated this agreement, Rushford-Peterson School District was able to negotiate with the state that during the length of the loan of the school, we would qualify for any additions needed, for about 50% off, after the original school construction. This would apply to any further construction.
I fully support what the school board is proposing with the additions to the school. There are long-term benefits to the school district and communities. The local school is the hub of the area. Anything we can do to extend the longevity of our school is a good investment in the Rushford-Peterson School District.
In closing, I have seen first-hand the impact that facilities have on hiring personnel to run the school, and the school’s ability to educate our children in a modern facility.
Greg Smith
Rushford, Minn.
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