Cliques and gangs formed as a result of some groups of kids looking for their own community. With the spiraling growth rate it is no surprise that area schools are constantly dealing with overcrowding school issues. North Branch is considering a school referendum this spring. And this comes less than four years after the last major school construction took place. Forest Lake and Chisago Lakes are other area schools that are currently or have recently had to deal with rapidly growing enrollments.
More people means more schools.
And if we are going to provide quality education we need to provide decision-makers and residents to stand up and speak of a vision that looks well beyond this or even the next generation. Growth for growth s sake is not healthy. Such growth assumes no boundaries. It cannot happen without compromising quality of life. And quality of life must include those systems that sustain us such as watersheds, aquifers, clean air, open space and natural communities.