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PRAGUE, Neb. — The Prague school board is continuing to explore the possibility of reorganizing with another school district.
Board members have arranged a Dec. 7 meeting with the North Bend school board and a tour of the district’s facilities.
The board has already visited the David City Public Schools.
Visiting schools will help the board with its decision, board member Lorri Petrezelka said. “It gives us a place to start with comparisons.”
Board member Michelle Vanek said the David City school board seemed agreeable to keeping an elementary attendance center in Prague should the districts combine.
Keeping an attendance center is something that the Prague board has identified as a high priority.
Earlier this year, the board sent letters to school districts that it had talked to about reorganization.
That letter stated that the “valued items” for Prague included an attendance center, representation on a governing board, bus service and keeping Prague’s valuation intact to support the reorganized district.
In a response letter, North Bend said it would also be open to keeping an attendance center in Prague.
The East Butler school board said it would be interested in more discussions with Prague.
The Wahoo Public Schools sought more information and suggested a comprehensive reorganization study.
Board member Mike Schaefer stated he was not sure if another study was the best course at this time. A feasibility study for reorganization was done several years ago for Prague, North Bend, East Butler and Wahoo.
Schaefer said that if one of the intents of a study was to get a feel for what patrons in the Prague district prefer, he questioned the success.
“I think people are probably burned out with studies,” he said.
He added that it would take time and delay a decision.
Board member Marlene Wade pointed out that the visits and tours are public meetings.
“I would encourage anyone to go to the school visits to see what they have to offer,” she stated.
Wade said these meetings are very important for all students and patrons in the Prague district.
“This is the future we are looking at right now,” she said.
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