Winds of change are blowing across southwest Nebraska - and not just the dusty, dirty grit of ongoing drought.
     There are difficult decisions being made regarding groundwater controls and the effects on agriculture. Farmers, ranchers and business owners are making hard choices on whether to forge ahead with business as usual, or change course.
     Difficult decisions are also being made as to our schools, spurred in large part by declining enrollments and escalating costs. Some disputes have been especially contentious, like disputes between the schools in the Hitchcock County Unified system, or mascot controversies between Grant and Madrid.
     Others are bound to get even uglier - water disputes in the Republican River Valley key among them.
     In Wauneta, Hamlet and Palisade, we've gotten past the hardest parts of our school consolidation issues. Now we are dealing with maintaining the status quo - upkeep, upkeep, upkeep - and how best to serve all of the children of our district with the limited resources available.
     A decision needs to be made as to the makeup of our grade school classes. The size of elementary classes in both Wauneta and Palisade are one-third to one-fourth the size they were when us 40-somethings were kids. It just is not economically feasible to continue with the same amount of staffing and class structure as was in place then.
     Parents of young children in our district have been considering what kind of class structure they would like for their kids: two different grade levels combined together at their present attendance center or moving all the kindergarten through fourth graders together under one roof.
     The most popular choice appears to be putting all elementary kids together in order to maintain classrooms for each individual grade level. This would establish a kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school in Palisade. The junior high and high school would remain in Wauneta. This would be a reasonable path on which our district should set course.
     In order for a Wauneta-Palisade elementary school to be established in Palisade, it will require a vote by the residents of the original Wauneta school district to authorize sending elementary kids from the west end of the district to the attendance center at the east end of the district, per the merger agreement approved in 1991.
     A crucial aspect in making this proposed change work is open communication and public input.
     One factor that seems to be lost on a lot of people is that the process is often more important than the end result, and in fact often determines the success of the end result.
     Case in point: When Republican Valley and Twin Valley decided to merge, instead of letting the ridiculous topic of a school mascot be a contentious issue, they opted to let their students suggest a new mascot and school colors, and then cast the deciding votes on them. The result has been a fully unified, new student body. The patrons of the Perkins County schools would be wise to consider that lead.
     There are many who believe the NRD boards are making too many important decisions behind closed doors, spurring rumors and bitter feelings. This just isn't good for business, especially public business. As much as legally possible, all public business should be conducted as openly as possible, whether it is the NRD or the school district.
     And all questions and concerns should be addressed fully and earnestly. To make informed decisions, issues have to be raised and information sought, even if that may make some uncomfortable. To plunder forward without taking all factors into consideration puts us on par with the proverbial ostrich with its head in the proverbial sand. Seeking information does not mean there is animosity toward anyone or their ideas. It means questions need answered.
     At the Village Board meeting Tuesday, a community member shared her concerns about the volume of the speakers at the ball park and the grief they caused late at night this past summer.
     Ballfield committee members listened politely, threw around ideas on how to improve the situation, and promised to try to make things better for next year. End of discussion. Hopefully the situation will improve. Best of all, the process was effective: her concerns were acknowledged and the people involved will seek solutions.
     Next week the Wauneta-Palisade School Board will decide whether to pursue a vote this spring to move Wauneta's K-4 youngsters to Palisade. Public input is needed, is being sought. If there are questions or concerns, now is the time to raise them. Keeping the process in mind, now is the time to politely consider all concerns and weigh all input.
    
    Breeze editorials are written by staff members and reflect the opinion of the news staff.