Letter to the Editor in the Grand Forks Herald:
GF city, school district should work together
It is clear that the city of Grand Forks and the Grand Forks School District have had both successes and challenges on the north end. To ensure we succeed, we urge the city and school district to work together more closely, as we are only successful when we all succeed in the long run.
By: Tyrone and Becca Grandstrand
GRAND FORKS — The recent discussion about closing north end schools has made us start thinking about why we live on the north end of Grand Forks.
We value all of Grand Forks; in fact, Tyrone grew up on the south end of town and loved it. But we chose to live on the north end when we bought our home.
We love that we are within walking and biking distance of a grocery store, two convenience stores, the university, downtown, the Greenway, and Becca’s job at the North Dakota Museum of Art.
As a result of the higher density and character of the area, we have met many wonderful neighbors who come from all walks of life. We greatly value the nearby schools and, based on the number of younger families moving into the area, it seems to be a common trend.
We appreciate that when we have children, they will be able to walk or bike to school throughout their K-12 experience, as we are close to Winship, Valley and Central.
Walkability is particularly important considering the health benefits and the reduced risk of obesity for us and our children.
Our values and reasons for living here shouldn’t be surprising. Housing industry experts have noted that 77 percent of Millennials (our generation) plan to live in more centralized, walkable locations that promote a sense of connection and community, with access to schools, farmers’ markets, transit systems and restaurants.
In fact, the Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals have put a priority on advocating for improvements in Grand Forks’ ability to meet these needs for our generation’s preferences as well as our community’s health and well-being. This is great news for everyone who prefers lower taxes because neighborhoods that are more densely built also require fewer tax dollars to provide services.
It is clear that the city of Grand Forks and the Grand Forks School District have had both successes and challenges on the north end. To ensure we succeed, we urge the city and school district to work together more closely, as we are only successful when we all succeed in the long run.
Long-term thinking and building cooperation are two of the major reasons we ran for office. We urge our colleagues to take these ideals into account when making decisions that will affect our community now and for generations to come.
Tyrone Grandstrand is a member of the Grand Forks City Council. Becca Grandstrand is a member of the Grand Forks School Board.
