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: 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 ...
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: U.S. Bank Stadium should prioritize bird safety
November 22, 2019
Although the U.S. Bank Stadium’s transparent exterior design is aesthetically pleasing, the 200,000 square feet of reflective glass is killing over 100 birds annually. Out of the 21 buildings in the Twin Cities metro area, the U.S. Bank Stadium has the third highest bird fatality rate, according to MPR News. Â...
Staff Editorial: BARR Conference, program beneficial to community but needs improving
April 10, 2019
The morning of April 11 will be a crowded one for Park, as around 500 educators from around the country will be coming together for the National Building Assets, Reducing Risks Conference hosted by the school. Building Assets, Reducing Risks (BARR) contains policies that are meant to create teacher-stu...
Staff Editorial: Nature center renovation needs re-evaluation
March 19, 2019
This month, the city of St. Louis Park is exploring the use of bonds to obtain $22 million in order to work toward several projects and renovations. The Echo Editorial Board sees this as a misdirected use of funds. The majority of the money will go toward renovating the Westwood Hills Nature Cente...
Staff Editorial: Evicted before convicted program must be stopped
January 23, 2019
Since 2008, the crime-free housing ordinance has been in effect in St. Louis Park. According to the city, it was put in place to address concerns about disorderly and criminal activity in housing units. The ordinance allows St. Louis Park police to tell landlords to evict tenants for reported instances ...
Staff Editorial: March against fossil fuels encourages change
November 1, 2018
On Sunday, Oct. 28 an anti-fossil fuel march was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in solidarity with Youth v. Gov suing the federal government for the cause of climate change. Students organized the march to show they are the future and to stand with the 21 youths who are bringing the case to trial. Acc...
Staff Editorial: Drug Take Back Day needs more promotion
October 20, 2018
St. Louis Park will participate in the 16th national Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 27, a day in which anyone can drop off expired or unused prescription drugs, according to the St. Louis Park City website. People will be able to bring in their drugs to the St. Louis Park Police Department from 10 a.m...
School now enforcing Pledge of Allegiance law
May 6, 2018
Park administrators began enforcing Minnesota Statute 121A.11 on April 18, which mandates a weekly recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance school-wide. Despite dissenting reactions from students, the editorial board believes the administration’s action is justified. As established in West Vir...
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...
Due to school closures, St. Louis Park Public Schools will begin to deliver daily meals to students who rely on free and reduced lunch starting March 23. The meals, delivered by buses to 13 locations,...
