Officials see oppourtunities

Republican Valley and Twin Valley superintendents Brent McMurtrey and Mark Norvell seemed excited this morning about the educational opportunities that will be afforded by the merger of their two school districts.

"This has always been about continuing to provide a quality education for our students," McMurtrey said.

Crinda McConville of Indianola called the election results, "a positive step for our communities." McConville said she wasn't surprised by the closeness of the outcome. "The economy, the drought, the war ... all these make people pretty worried," she said. "I'm just glad the communities have chosen positively for the kids."

Opponent Brad Randel said he is "very disappointed the patrons have put this kind of burden on agricultural land." "This burden has to be passed on to renters of the land, the stores in town and implement dealers," he said. "This is an additional burden on an already-stained economy."

Norvell said the goal has been, throughout the two-three-year process, to let the people decide, "and the people have decided," he said this morning. "Now, the work begins."

The merger petition now goes before the state's school reorganization committee for its approval, a process Norvell said neither he nor McMurtrey have been through before. "We're counting on a lot of legal advice and help," Norvell said, as the new district works through the state's reorganization process.

McMurtrey said the two districts won't look a lot different for a couple years, as each maintains its operation during construction of the new building.

McMurtrey said he was pleased patrons of both districts took the time and effort to get information on the proposed merger, so they could make an informed vote. "It's been fun to watch the democratic process," McMurtrey said, "and to let the people speak."

Linda Fitzsimmons of Lebanon, who has four school-age and nearly school-age children, said this morning she was happy with the election outcome.

"I didn't want the districts to dissolve and have to send my kids to school in McCook," Linda said, but added, "I didn't want to close (the school in) Danbury either, but with this merger, we'll still have a voice in this valley."

Linda said she knows there were a lot of people against the merger, but she said, "I really hope we can put aside our differences, and all work together."