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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Editorial: Wal-Mart May Be Start of Big Things

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    At about 450 employees, the Moriarty-Edgewood School district is the largest employer in the Estancia Valley.
    It only makes sense that when a new employer, such as Wal-Mart, shows up on the scene that the district will lose some folks. In the case of Wal-Mart, which is scheduled to open in March in Edgewood, the district has already lost three bus drivers with another five looking to go to work for the retail giant.
    Wal-Mart intends to open with more than 400 employees, which is good news for the valley. The bad news is that other employers, such as the school district, The Connection call center and the CCA prison in Estancia might be hard-pressed to find workers.
    School district officials said that increasing wages will probably be on the table come budget time, but Superintendent Karen Couch is sounding an optimistic tone— more jobs mean more families, and that could translate to more students for the district, which has seen decreases in its student population over the past five years.
    There will be adjustments for the entire business community after Wal-Mart opens. Smaller businesses are likely to take a hit, but in the end, a major retailer in our midst could be the start of big things for the valley.