Lyons Mayor on Schools Merging

November 5, 2013

Trevor Preston

Board President

Lyons-Decatur Northeast Schools

Lyons, NE  68038

Dear Board President and School District Board:

First of all, my apology for not being able to attend tonight’s meeting.  A work obligation has taken me out of town for most of the week.

I am writing you tonight as the mayor of Lyons.  Although I have two children who attend NHS, I believe the school district merger discussion goes far beyond my feelings as a parent.  I believe this is a community wide issue that will have lasting implications for the community of Lyons.  As mayor, I felt it was my duty to communicate to the school board my thoughts regarding the possible school merger as well as some results from the recent community wide survey completed in September.

The results of the community wide attitude survey showed that close to seventy-five percent rated “maintaining a quality K-12 school system” as moderately high and/or high.  This question scored a 4.22 out of a possible 5.  This survey question ranked second on the top ten list of needs identified by those participating only behind “safe drinking water” which scored 4.28 out of 5.  The group felt so strongly about this matter that it made “maintaining a strong school system” as the top priority on the action plan developed that night.

I give you this information because I believe it is important that the board knows that this community supports you and the strong local school district you have maintained and cultivated throughout the years.  It tells me that this community recognizes the impact a strong local school district can have on their town.  It also tells me they recognize what kind of impact the loss of all or part of their school can have on their community.

I am asking you that as you move through this process of exploration into a county wide school merger that you take into account more than just future child enrollment numbers.  I am asking that you consider the impact your actions will have on the future of this community.  The school system is a vital component of any community, especially a small one like Lyons.  Although at first glance the merger might show many benefits, I feel it is necessary for you as a board and all of us as a community to anticipate and think about the possible ripple effects of such a move.  Many of you have been part of Lyons all your life or have spent many years in or near it.  You have been part of the struggles and successes just as I have.  I can tell you however the struggles for Lyons continue to get tougher to fix every year.  A diminished local school district will only accelerate those challenges that we will have to combat.  It could make for a very tough uphill battle that we may no longer be able to overcome.

So please, I am asking you to take into consideration the big picture when deciding the fate of our local school district.  This is bigger than just a school issue; it is a community wide issue.  We have seen the effects of what happens to a community when their school goes away, whether right away or eventually over time.  We have plenty of examples all around us.  I am asking that before a decision is made whether to move forward with these discussions that this board can say which all certainty that it has explored all avenues for maintaining the Lyons-Decatur school district as a functioning independent school system.  Please do not let urgency dictate the need for a decision.  This kind of decision requires that all options and avenues be discussed thoroughly and thoughtfully.  It is not only the fate of the school system that rests on your shoulders but potentially the fate of this community as well.

Thank you for your willingness to listen.

Respectfully,

Andy Fuston

Mayor of Lyons