To the editor:

Strong schools mean everything to this region. I am the director of Nursing at Oak Hills Living Center, where 126 community members who can no longer care for themselves call home. We need educated individuals with diverse experiences to join our team and care for our amazing residents, and the school systems in this community have been great partners. When our schools are strong, we create young people who aspire to serve others, solve challenging problems, and explore a career where they thrive.

As a New Ulm Public School alumnus, I started my health care career at Oak Hills over 30 years ago. We are proud to have been the first step on many nurses’ journeys who are now employed throughout our community. Having youth join our team, receive training as certified nursing assistants, trained medication aides, and choose our scholarship program to further their education as LPN’s and RN’s requires strong partnerships with our schools. Our public school system not only provides an array of courses, but classes where high school students can earn college credit, activities where young people can grow leadership skills and programs where students can gain hands-on experience through unique learning opportunities like the Career Tech Education Center and our very own OnTrack program at Oak Hills.

Please join me in voting YES on Nov. 8 to continue the current levy. This will be a 0% tax increase, yet will allow our public school system to continue to innovate and expand what is offered to our young people. They are creating our community’s future leaders, future problem solvers and future caregivers. Don’t you want only the best caring for your loved ones, or you someday?

Carmen Broste

Lafayette