STUDENTS WILL KNOW FIRST ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSINGS

Students at the four smallest Brainerd elementary schools will get sealed notes to take home to their parents Tuesday afternoon. Inside the notes will be Superintendent Jerry Walseth's recommendations to close two of the schools. Walseth told the Brainerd Dispatch he doesn't want to say anymore about school closings until Thursday's school board finance committee meeting. Nisswa, Harrison, Whittier and Lincoln students will carry the notes home. Officials will also tell about a hundred other teachers and staff members about the suggested closings. Board member Bob Nystrom said he's received about 25 letters from Nisswa asking him not to close Nisswa Elementary.