Staff Editorial: School closure necessary to protect community
March 15, 2020
This op-ed is updated as of 4:20 p.m. March 15. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Louis Park Public Schools plan to close for nearly three weeks from March 17 to April 6, according to a phone blast sent out March 15. Although this decision should’ve been made sooner, the Echo Editorial Board applauds the district for acting with an abundan...
Staff Editorial: Park must keep students informed of COVID-19
March 14, 2020
As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread around the United States, schools are taking action to combat the pandemic. According to the Star Tribune, there have been 14 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Minnesota, including one confirmed in St. Louis Park. Students and staff alike have been anxious to hear P...
Staff Editorial: New law benefits fight against COVID-19
March 13, 2020
After the first case of COVID-19 in Minnesota was announced March 6, state lawmakers have decided to rush $20.89 million to help fund and plan a public health response to protect citizens from the virus. The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate and House, and Gov. Tim Walz signed it into law March...
Staff Editorial: Permanent block scheduling feels unnecessary
March 4, 2020
As new start and end times come into effect in the 2020-21 year, the Scheduling Task Force has turned its focus on the 2021-22 year. Currently, it is presenting its options for the daily schedule. The seven-period option allows for meeting time before school and collaboration after third hour. The block sch...
Staff Editorial: Protest brings important issue to national stage
March 4, 2020
At the beginning of Sen. Amy Klobuchar rally March 1, a group of protesters took to the stage with the goal of spreading awareness of Klobuchar’s involvement in the imprisonment of Myon Burrell. Although all citizens have an inalienable right to the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and...
Staff Editorial: Bathroom mirrors should not be incentive
February 24, 2020
Going to the bathroom at school is a hassle. First, you have to find an unlocked bathroom and wait in line for an open stall. Also, few bathrooms include mirrors, so you have to search for a bathroom with a mirror if you need it, even if that bathroom is nowhere near your class. At the pep fest Feb. ...
Staff Editorial: Iowa Caucus produces muddled results
February 11, 2020
In light of the Iowa Caucus controversy — where nearly everything went wrong — changes must be made to the overall nominating process for the Democratic Party. The Caucus Feb. 3 initially planned to announce a winner by evening, but issues arose surrounding the use of a relatively new and untested ...
Staff Editorial: Protest at state capitol highlights community values
February 1, 2020
On Jan. 26, more than 200 people, many of Indian descent, arrived at the Minnesota Capitol to protest India’s new law regarding citizenship. The Citizen Amendment Act causes religion to be taken into account when immigrants apply for citizenship in India. Many protesters believe the law is discriminatory ...
Straws by request will create environmental impact
January 17, 2020
In an attempt to reduce the amount of plastic used by consumers in St. Louis Park, the straws by request amendment was added to the Zero Waste Packaging Ordinance, which went into effect Jan. 1. Under this amendment, food establishment personnel are required to wait for a customer to request a straw rathe...
Staff Editorial: Sale of parking passes inaccessible
January 9, 2020
As finals and the beginning of second semester near, Park administration has announced that parking passes for the remainder of the year will be sold online for the first time. Although this system will likely be more efficient than the one used in the past — where students had to come in to sch...
Staff Editorial: Shortened winter break prompts many perspectives
December 19, 2019
With a shorter winter break, the Echo Editorial Board feels this change may be detrimental to students despite its benefits. For the 2019-2020 school year, winter break will last Dec. 21–Jan. 2, less than the previous year’s winter break which spanned from Dec. 22–Jan. 6. The final day of school for Park this school year is June 4, earlier t...
Staff Editorial: Hennepin County should vote to welcome refugees
December 13, 2019
Following an executive order issued by President Trump Sept. 26, a North Dakota county created local tensions by considering a ban on refugees. Burleigh County attracted national attention over a rule mentioned in the executive order, authorizing both the State and local government to express written co...
In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising the use of cloth face coverings and continuing to practice social distancing, according to a recommendation...
Gabriel Kaplan and Talia Lissauer
This story is updated as of 3:30 p.m. March 26. Earlier this month, Echo asked its Instagram followers to submit questions and we did our best to answer your concerns then, and we have reached out again...
Marta Hill, Gabriel Kaplan, Isabel Kjaer, and Talia Lissauer
During a conference call March 25, Gov. Tim Walz ordered all Minnesotans to limit their movement outside of their homes to protect those most at risk from the pandemic — this request includes an extension...
Park is having virtual dress codes over time away from school March 23- 27 because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The dress codes are being used to unite the community because distance learning has made it...
