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Early ed survives district debate

Presented with a plan to cut a program that's been serving kindergarten-age children locally for decades, the Cloquet school board balked Monday.

The board denied a recommendation to close the Early 5's wrap-around care program, but not before hearing from a host of mothers and past users of the program.

"It's frustrating and upsetting to worry about other kids falling through the cracks," said Emily Dunaisky, whose son was in Early 5's.

Carly Baker said her husband is 37 years old and "he did Early 5's" in the district.

"We have three daughters ... we did Early 5's with our middle daughter an...