Chronicle Editorial

By: 
Chronicle Staff

Whole-grade sharing conversations are a great first step
   Long have been the days where conversations about the future of education in Franklin County have been held. For many years, prognosticators have spelled the doom and gloom of smaller schools. However, in the day and age of smaller classrooms, higher expectations and fewer dollars to spend, local school board members from CAL and Hampton-Dumont are coming to the table to see if they can find ways to make a sharing agreement work.
   While patrons of both school districts are proud of their schools, ensuring the quality of education is the long-term key. Discussing revolving around whole-grade sharing don’t necessarily mean the end of the road for schools like CAL. Using our neighbors to the south, Iowa Falls and Alden have had a whole-grade sharing agreement for years. Both districts have been able to maintain some independence without moving into a total merger.
   For both districts, it’s not the first time they’ve looked at heading down this path. Hampton and Dumont had a whole-grade sharing agreement for many years. While CAL shared with Dows for roughly six years before the agreement was dissolved and Dows joined forces with Clarion-Goldfield.
   We applaud the CAL school board members for having the foresight to ask for the June 8 meeting. We also applaud them for reconvening again next week to consider what’s next.
   In turn, we also encourage the patrons to be open-minded in this process. Decisions like these are never easy. However, the decisions they make most assuredly won’t be with the short-term in mind, and will be what’s best for the education of kids of both districts.
   Their student’s future depends on it.
 
Prestage or no Prestage…
Franklin County’s economic growth is a positive step
   Whether or not the Prestage project finds its way to Franklin County, discussions about the growth of business in Franklin County is a huge positive.
   In recent weeks, the energy and excitement of new possibilities has appeared to lift the spirits of residents from border to border.
   But, with or without Prestage, Franklin County appears to be looking at a possible growth in businesses.
   NEW Cooperative, who recently built a grain terminal on the Franklin-Wright County line is already looking to expand the facility with a $25 million feed mill. This mill would add another 18 solid-paying positions to the county. On top of that, Kwik Star appears to be on the brink of acquiring land near downtown Hampton. That will add more jobs and boost the county’s tax base as well.
   In recent years, the prospects of creating new jobs for the county appeared to be slim. However, adding employers like these, whether big or small, helps everyone involved.
   By creating new jobs, it allows for new opportunities. But finding ways to capitalize on the momentum, with or with out Prestage, will be key to the future growth of Franklin County.

Hampton Chronicle

9 Second Street NW
Hampton, IA 50441
Phone: 641-456-2585
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