To the editor:

Another grocery store — A recent news article mentioned that the former Crestwood Plaza’s 1.1 million square feet of vacant retail space could include a grocery store, pharmacy, convenience store and big-box stores.

So I wonder, does anyone question why consideration is being given to place a grocery store in the development plans when there is a Schnucks across the street and a Shop ‘n Save and Aldi blocks away? Unless their concept of grocery store might be something like Whole Foods Market or Trader Joe’s, which might be doable. But I think we need to support those businesses who have remained in the city during the drought years.

Smoke and mirrors — The Mehlville Board of Education and teachers agreed last year to raise the teaching days to 176 days from the state minimum of 174. Instead of adding two separate calendar days, the board and teachers agreed to extend the school day by five minutes. However, under the terms of the new memorandum of understanding, teachers will not have to spend any more time at work, since the policy that requires them to be at work 20 minutes early and leave 15 minutes after school will be modified to chop off five minutes either before or after school to make up for the five more minutes of the school day.

Now, I don’t live in the Mehlville School District, so you can tell me to mind my own business, but the spirit of the intent was to seemingly add quality teaching days over the established standard state minimum. School districts throughout the state ought to take notice as they can do the same and boast that they exceed the state minimum requirements. Wow.