Ely Echo Editorial: A new school year begins with big change, same challenges

The school doors in Ely swing open a little bit earlier than normal this year, with students heading back this week instead of next, with Labor Day falling a bit later on the calendar than usual.

Once again, the sad fact is there are likely to be fewer kids with backpacks heading inside, and fewer lockers to fill, and fewer mouths to feed at lunchtime.

No matter how you slice it, a district with 23 incoming kindergarteners is not the sign of a healthy district, or a healthy community, and should be a concern to all of us - no matter what side you fall on in the contentious and obvious community divide over copper-nickel mining.