District 8 might give building to county

The board treasurer of the District 8 school district told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning it might be "inevitable" that the District 8 rural school southwest of McCook consolidates with McCook and closes its doors.

Contingent upon the passage of state legislation that forces the consolidation of Class I schools with their affiliated K-12 school districts, Jim Trail said, the District 8 board would like to offer the school facilities to the county. Trail said the board wants the buildings to continue to be used and not allowed to fall into disrepair.

Trail told commissioners it would be a simple procedure to transfer ownership, although he declined to go into details. He asked commissioners to "keep it in the back of your minds," saying, "it's a definite possibility," that the school closing could happen.

Trail said legislators have been trying for several years to close Class I's. "They've got their teeth sharpened," Trail said. "They just might get it done this time."

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said they would "let the laws take their course," before delving deeply into the process of ownership transfer.

Trail said the original two-story school building has a new roof on it and is air-conditioned. The addition is just two years old and includes classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a stage, a kitchen and restrooms. The new building is completely paid for, Trail said.

Trail suggested commissioners look into using the buildings for the county's health department. McNutt said that department and the Southwest Nebraska Health Department, now housed in the Hitchcock County courthouse in Trenton, may be looking into the possibility of sharing office space.

Trail said the buildings are used now, at no cost, by patrons of the district for meetings and wedding or anniversary receptions when school is not in session. "We try to keep things in the patrons' and the taxpayers' use," Trail said. "They paid for it. They're entitled to use it."

Trail said the board would like to see the buildings continue to be used by the public.