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The future of the Alliance Public Schools Rural Attendance Centers will be decided in two weeks.
During Monday night's Alliance School Board meeting, the board agreed to make a decision on March 3rd whether to keep the buildings open, close them, or reconfigure the facilities.
The board made it clear that due to lack of action on the part of the Nebraska Legislature, their backs are against the wall.
The legislature failed to override a gubernatorial veto last year on a bill that would have established Class One Schools. Governor Heineman stated at the time that the legislation as written would have made it too difficult for former elementary-only school districts to be reestablished in their previous form.
And earlier this month, two bills that would have reestablished the schools were killed in committee.
While not directly stating closing the buildings was a done-deal, board president Tim Kollars expressed his frustration over differences in curriculum between the rural attendance centers and town schools, and personal costs.
Board member Terry Curtiss agreed. He says the difference in curriculum opportunities is extremely unbalanced.
Western Nebraska School Boards have slowly been closing the centers. About a year ago, the board voted not to operate the Berea Rural Attendance Center. Curtiss reminded those attending last night's meeting that decision was made due to declining enrollment. Berea was down to nine students and two teachers.
This year the Hemingford School Board voted to close the Cottonwood Attendance Center. That building only houses three students.
Emerson Elementary Principal Dave Ocken asked the board to make a decision as soon as possible. He says changes in teaching positions and possible reduction in force is creating anxiety among elementary staff members.
The enrollment figures for the three rural attendance centers, as announced at Monday night's meeting, include a total of 77 students, or an average of 26 children per building. However, 22 of those children live in Alliance and have opted out of the town schools.
