Losing local control

Dear Editor,

On the last days of the Nebraska Legislature, LB 126 was passed, forcing consolidation of all Class I (rural schools) with larger K-12 districts.

This law would dissolve Class I districts without the vote of the local patrons. It is a very complex law, taking away local control which is very important to make the Class I districts work efficiently and improve the quality of education that the small schools have.

Contrary to what Sen. Raikes, the author of this bill says, that closing these schools will save money, he has appropriated $3 million to implement that provision of LB126 when many schools are already closing on their own. The governor could see the shortcomings of this bill and vetoed it, and it was overturned by only two votes. The governor wrote in a letter to the Legislature that the bill does not achieve its original goals of improved efficiency and quality of eduction for the students. The governor also said that forced consolidation would alienate the parents from their schools rather than involving them more in the discussions affecting the management and structure of their children's' public education.

Nebraskans for Local Schools, a coalition of local school supporters from across Nebraska, are conducting a petition drive to stop LB 126 and allow school districts to vote before schools are consolidated.

This is the democratic and American way to do things and not mandates from Lincoln!

This bill will open the door to further consolidation of other entities, giving more control to the government. LB 129 is already in the basket for next year, which will very effectively close many Class II small high schools.

There is no advantage here for the students, only control for the government.

If these small schools close, there will be no more choices for the parents and no more local control.

For more information about this very important Legislation and to help with the petition drive, you can call Richard Klein at (308) 345-3188 or Lorri Sughroue at (308) 345-7360.

Richard Klein,

Nebraskans for Local Schools

Class I's United

McCook