More painful choices can be expected

After a 35 percent enrollment decline in the last 10 years, the school districts of Hitchcock County are facing a major decision about how to provide quality, affordable education for their children.

When the county's three districts -- Stratton, Trenton and Culbertson -- adopted a unification plan in 1999, it was hoped the school districts could get by until the unification period ended in 2006.

But, staring at the financial facts, the school districts and the unified school district superintendent, Cindy Huff, now realize that will not be possible. Because of the economic downturn and major cutbacks in state aid, Mrs. Huff said action will have to be taken before the next school year, estimating the districts will be close to a million dollars short of meeting expenses in 2004-05.

Although three separate school districts still exist, two of the districts are already sharing facilities and teachers. Calling themselves Lakeside Central, the Stratton and Trenton districts now operate a high school in Trenton and a grade school at Stratton. Up to now, Culbertson has been able to maintain both elementary and secondary facilities.

Although the details have not yet been worked out, that arrangement may change ... mainly because there is not sufficient money to keep all the schools in Hitchcock County in operation.

Among the possibilities are (1) A tax levy override; (2) Having one high school instead of two in the county; and (3) Merging with districts in other counties. However, for the next two years, the inter-county mergers will depend upon the unification agreement binding the three districts. If that agreement is not honored, the incentive money provided by the state would have to be repaid.

Nothing is set yet, but decisions will have to be made soon. Another meeting of the unification board -- composed of representatives from each of the districts -- is scheduled for Monday night. At that session, Chairman Ken Alig has asked each of the districts to tell which plan they favor to meet the unified district's obligations.

This is the latest chapter in a devastating decline in student numbers in Southwest Nebraska. Down to 350 students in the entire county -- an average of less than 30 per grade for the three districts combined -- Hitchcock County has to act, just as their neighbors to the east (Twin Valley and Republican Valley) and to the south (Herndon and Atwood) did this year.

Consolidation is a painful process. But, with fewer and fewer students in our schools, there is little choice other than to combine teaching staffs, facilities and services.