School vote may be sign of more things to come

When the Hayes Center Board of Education increased the amount of the district's school bond issue by $800,000, outside observers scoffed. Their reasoning went something like this: "The voters of Hayes County didn't approve the $2 million bond issue in the last two election, so what makes the board think they will vote for a higher amount this time."

That may have been a reasonable assumption, but the people of Hayes County surprised the conventional thinkers. At a special election Tuesday, Hayes Center area citizens voted, 234 to 211, in favor of the $2.8 million school bond issue.

So what turned the tide? Why did voters approve a $2.8 million issue, when they previously turned down two $2 million issue?

In the view of Doris Vlasin, a long-time resident of the county, the difference was the added improvements offered in this issue compared to the previous one. "The climate control features in the grade school made a difference," she said. That improvement -- which was not a part of the previous bond issue -- was a definite plus in the minds of voters, in her opinion, as was the larger room for ag classes.

The ag classroom took on added importance due to the Hayes Center school's decision to become an "Ag Magnet" school. As part of that program, ag classes in Hayes Center would not only be available for district students, but ag students from the surrounding region as well.

School officials also pointed to the importance of the neighborhood meetings held in the two weeks before the election. "It was good to get together to talk about the issues," said Loren Wach, who served as board president during all three elections.

With their vote Tuesday, citizens of the Hayes Center district may be signaling a turnaround in how the people of Southwest Nebraska are approaching the future. "It's a very positive sign," said Van Korell, president and CEO of the AmFirst Bank group, including the bank in Hayes Center. "I believe Southwest Nebraska is on the upswing. The population decline has bottomed out, and many people -- including those in Hayes County -- are determined to do all they can to keep this area moving forward."

Hayes Center Superintendent Tom McMahon agrees. "You would be surprised how many people want to move to Hayes Center," he said. "We have inquiries every month. Our problem now is housing. It's difficult to find places for people to live. The houses that do come available are quickly snapped up."

In the years to come, it will be interesting to follow developments in the Hayes Center area. At just over 1,000 population, Hayes County has the least population of any county in Southwest Nebraska. It would be significant then -- and also symbolic -- if the county with the fewest people were to inspire the action needed for a new era of area progress.