Unified Board Member: Agree To Disagree & Move Forward

The future of Nebraska Unified District #1 was a major point of discussion Monday night as concerns were raised over the inter-local agreement between Clearwater and Orchard and the possible addition of Ewing Public Schools.

​Per action taken earlier in February, the Orchard board made a motion to request Clearwater to come to the table with an agreeable option for the site location by May. If there is no consensus, Orchard will request to dissolve the reorganization after the 2016-17 school year. It has been mentioned at other meetings that the decision could move to the Unified board. 

The Unified board members pointed out during Monday’s meeting that relationships affected by the inter-local agreement are a concern.

Board Vice President Terri Hergert said, “I see relationships deteriorating rapidly. What concerns me is the impact this is having on the relationships with staff and students.”

Conversation ensued when and how the Unified board should step in, but no decision was made. 

“It has been 11 months of back and forth, and I am not sure when they will come to an agreement. How long do we let this go on?” Hergert said. “There was a motion made back in February for both sides to come to an agreement ‘no later than May.’ Do we let these relationships deteriorate up until May?”

Marty Konopasek said, “Ultimately, we will have to make a decision. The boards must work it out, but if they are not going to come to an agreement, at some point the unified board has to make a decision. When is enough enough?”

Board President Joe Thiele said he is hesitant to give the unified board a deadline since Orchard and Clearwater appear to working toward an agreement. 

“I hate to set a deadline on ourselves tonight as there are some things in the works. To rush as much as to make a decision tonight or next month won’t serve us well, either,” Thiele said.

Presidents of both Clearwater and Orchard’s advisory boards spoke at the meeting. Amy Thiele of Clearwater said her board had received the most recent proposal from Orchard but wanted to wait until after the Unified meeting to decide how to proceed.

Candice Hoke of Orchard said her board would fully support a decision by the Unified board. Board member Peggy Liska asked specifically what was “the deal breaker.” Hoke said, “Leaving the language the way that it is because no one can explain it.”

Liska asked, “If it’s only a few words, how did we get here?” Hoke stood silent for a moment and replied, “I wish I could say.”

Liska then said, “It is time to agree to disagree and let bygones be bygones and move forward with what is best.”

Letter From Ewing
In February, the Ewing Board of Education wrote a letter of interest to the Unified Board about an opportunity for open communication to discuss how Ewing could be involved with the other districts that make up the Unified district. 

​In their letter, the Ewing board listed challenges facing all small rural schools, such as increased costs of operation, high land valuations, declining enrollment and revenue, and also encouraged future conversation. Ewing mentioned a feasibility study and discussion of cooperative activities.

During discussion at Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Dale Martin said, “We need to keep our options open for the district. It makes sense that a feasibility study may give us a better idea of how it would work out.”
Thiele said, “Geographically, Ewing is a good fit. They are a community of our size. This may be a step in the right direction.” 

Discussion of how Ewing could be added as a piece of the puzzle in the Unified district’s equation also brought up points of consideration. 

“We have to fix our problem before we can bring Ewing in. Maybe it is a solution. I don’t know,” Hergert said.
Ultimately, the Unified board agreed that any decision has to be grounded in what is best for everyone in the district.

​Martin said, “It is a Unified board responsibility to help manage this district.”
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It was agreed that possible feasibility survey options will be researched and presented in the future.