To the Editor...'We're from Esko, we couldn't be prouder'

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To the Editor:

“We’re from Esko, we couldn’t be prouder. If you can’t hear us now, we’ll yell a little louder.”

I’ve been a cheerleader for Esko just about all my life. It began in 1956, when I asked to be the little Eskomo mascot. Several years later, as a high school student, my cheerleading career continued. My EHS boyfriend, Russ, was a four-sport athlete. The best way to spend time with and catch his “eye” was to cheer for those Esko winning teams. It must’ve worked, because I married him. After college, my husband was fortunate to be hired at his alma mater Esko, as a secondary math teacher in grades 7-12. He was known to hundreds of students and families as “Mr. D.”

Mr. D and I were thrilled to be able to stay in Esko. We bought a modest home near the school and started our family. We were blessed with three daughters and quickly became immersed in their school activities. In a blink of an eye, our girls grew up, found jobs in the area, married, and started families of their own. Two daughters and their husbands bought and built homes in Esko, as well, and four of our six grandchildren attend Esko Public Schools. From kindergarten graduations to the All-Night Grad Parties, “we’re from Esko and we couldn’t be prouder.”

After 35 years, my husband retired from teaching in Esko. Many people asked if we would move out of the community to our lake home or perhaps to sunny Florida. We just couldn’t. Our loyalty and love for our little bedroom community and its school was too strong. We simply responded to them, “We’re from Esko and we couldn’t be prouder.”

Over the years we welcomed many new families into our community. They said they came because of the school and its reputation for excellence. They came because they wanted the best for their children. They came because their desire was to be a part of Esko’s winning tradition in academics, athletics and the arts.

Today we wonder, will this winning tradition continue? Will we be able to compete with other schools in the state? Will people still buy or build in Esko in order to have their children enroll in the school district?

Currently, 90 percent of Minnesota communities support their schools with operating levies. Esko does NOT have an operational levy at this time.

Voting “yes” for an operating levy and facilities referendum on Nov. 6 will ensure that the tradition of Esko pride continues. Voting “yes” will show our children and grandchildren that we are cheering for them. Voting “yes” shouts out to everyone, “We’re from Esko, we couldn’t be prouder. If you can’t hear us now, we’ll yell a little louder.”

Always an Eskomo cheerleader,

Lynn Rae (Juntunen) Davidson, Esko

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion