A recent survey showed that 77 percent of all the future jobs in Minnesota will require at least two years of education beyond high school.

To Republicans, Democrats and independents, that means we have a golden opportunity to keep Robin Brown, a school teacher, married to a school superintendent, in St. Paul — working in the Legislature for our school system. Both our K-12 and Riverland Community College.

I can’t believe we want to pass up this golden moment for the unknown! Robin Brown is as close to a god-send as you get.

The largest employer in Albert Lea is our wonderful medical facility. It is tied to Mayo Health System, one of the top medical facilities in the world! It requires a large staff of professional people from nurses aides, registered nurses, X-ray staff, computer workers, laboratory people, pharmacy staff to the most skilled doctors. All their learning began in K-12 grades and into specialties.

St. John’s, Good Samaritan, Thorne Crest, Oak Park all require large staffs of professional workers.

The vocational tract in Riverland and other vocational schools also train mechanics, heating and air conditioning people, carpenters, plumbers, on and on. The days of the “shade tree mechanics” are over.

All training and education begin in K-12 grades and then onto Riverland or other colleges and universities. They simply must be funded. We cannot “kick the can down the road” as the governor did in the last year.

Fifty or more years ago a high school graduate could get a good job at Wilson & Co., Alamco, Streater, etc. Students got summer jobs at Wilson. The best-paid worker was a ham deboner — not so anymore.

Keeping Robin Brown in St. Paul working for Albert Lea area is a must!

Robert Sherman

Albert Lea