Battle Over Small Schools Continues
Battle Over Small Schools Continues In Nebraska
By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
On November 14th, Lancaster County District Judge Paul Merritt issued a temporary order suspending a state law passed in the last legislative session that would have required all elementary-only schools to merge with larger districts. Nebraska has 206 elementary-only school districts, with many located in the most rural parts of the state.
The judge’s temporary order suspending forced Class I district mergers must be made permanent by the end of the month. Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, could appeal the order, potentially lifting the injunction until the Nebraska Supreme Court has the opportunity to rule on the case.
The State School Reorganization Committee would be obliged to begin carrying out the law if the injunction were lifted, according to Committee Chair Kendall Mosely. “If the committee is free to go ahead and do what it’s charged to do, we will,” Mosely said.
If the schools are dissolved as current law requires in June 2006, over 4 months before the vote, “a fair opportunity to vote in a meaningful manner will not be available,” Judge Merritt ruled.
Once the Class I districts are dissolved; court decisions and election results will likely be unable to reverse the process. If dissolution of Class I schools is delayed until after November 2006, the schools will still be there and will be subject to the law and the will of the people. If dissolution proceeds, the people will lose their voice in the matter. Let the people decide.
for more information post a question or comment here
or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.
By John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
On November 14th, Lancaster County District Judge Paul Merritt issued a temporary order suspending a state law passed in the last legislative session that would have required all elementary-only schools to merge with larger districts. Nebraska has 206 elementary-only school districts, with many located in the most rural parts of the state.
The judge’s temporary order suspending forced Class I district mergers must be made permanent by the end of the month. Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, could appeal the order, potentially lifting the injunction until the Nebraska Supreme Court has the opportunity to rule on the case.
The State School Reorganization Committee would be obliged to begin carrying out the law if the injunction were lifted, according to Committee Chair Kendall Mosely. “If the committee is free to go ahead and do what it’s charged to do, we will,” Mosely said.
If the schools are dissolved as current law requires in June 2006, over 4 months before the vote, “a fair opportunity to vote in a meaningful manner will not be available,” Judge Merritt ruled.
Once the Class I districts are dissolved; court decisions and election results will likely be unable to reverse the process. If dissolution of Class I schools is delayed until after November 2006, the schools will still be there and will be subject to the law and the will of the people. If dissolution proceeds, the people will lose their voice in the matter. Let the people decide.
for more information post a question or comment here
or contact John Crabtree, johnc@cfra.org
Center for Rural Affairs
Values. Worth. Action.
posted by Center for Rural Affairs @ 5:30 PM
2 Comments:
At 8:47 PM,
Anonymous said…
Elementary education is the most important education of a child's life. I think it is disgusting that schools could be forced to merge simply because they are elementary-only school districts. Most schools try to have smaller classes in the elementary grades because it is proven that smaller classes are more effective. So why is it that elementary-only school districts are being punished?
I think that is more than a coincidence that lifting the injunction before a vote is possible because I think most people would vote against a merger.
Like you stated at the end of your article...Let the people decide!
At 8:54 PM,
Anonymous said…
Let the people decide. Democracy is the answer. Rural towns should have the right to their schools. Let's take a vote!
Post a Comment
<< Home