I had no real awareness of the quality of education at Austin High School until I entered college at the University of Colorado. I didn’t consider myself an outstanding student, but through my college years, I began to realize what a great education I received from Austin High School. I am indebted for that education. As my children were graduating, we realized how fortunate we were to rebuild our high school and renovate the grade schools—easily one of the most important community projects.

We now have the opportunity to observe the incredible work taking place at our schools to insure that our children are getting first-class educations.

In recent years, we have been realizing that as a nation, we are not competitive in science and math fields. Recently here in Austin, we made an important step updating our science and math programs through the renovation of the entire third floor of Austin High. At the same time, we are sending nearly 100 teachers to the University of Minnesota for advanced classes designed to make them leaders in the special sciences and math. I had the opportunity to join others in the announcement of new science labs and programs at Ellis Middle School. It was a special happening.

Although I have rarely written a letter to the editor, I feel compelled to express strong feelings and commitment that assures our children that we need to provide opportunities to enhance our education system. These advancements are being made possible through the hard work of talented teachers and educational leaders we have here in Austin. Our teaching staffs have worked hard to enhance the curriculum programming while assuring that we have measurably improved scholastic programs.

With these fine programs in place, we have been made aware that we now face a budget shortfall due to a freeze in funding from the state. In order to maintain the wonderful programs we have underway through our school system, it is important for our community to support the schools in the form of voting Yes for Kids to pass an operating referendum. Please support our kids by upholding Austin’s tradition of excellence which is the cornerstone for assuring improved, high quality education.

Richard L. Knowlton

The Hormel Foundation

Austin