The future is going to look different for some North Iowa school districts and simply sharing, just isn't cutting it anymore.
The Woden-Crystal Lake and Titonka school districts are under a sharing contract.
It's been that way for 15 years, but now there are financial strains and low enrollment numbers.
Educators are considering options that will ultimately make a significant impact on the districts.
Continuing with the existing sharing program is not an option for the districts.
Titonka Superintendent Keith Buckridge says, "all that would mean is the state would make decisions for us...they're looking at the financial aspect of it there gonna come in draw a line and make the decision, for you where now this is when we have a chance to control our own future."
They are looking at different ways of keeping their schools open for students, but some of those decisions are not keeping the districts together.
Re-organizing or merging the school districts permanently is not an option because the state requires there to be at least 300 students at the combined schools and currently there are only about 280."
Leaders say it boils down to two options. The first one means the WCLT schools would need to find another partner to share resources.
The second is for each school to go their separate ways and look for their own sharing partner bordering their district, but either way brings change for students.
Buckridge says, "we're looking at pretty similar miles so we're right in the center of nowhere there's nobody real close to us so that's another thing important..trying to keep keep something here in town..especially an elementary, it's a lot easier to put middle/high school students on a bus then it is preschool and kindergarteners"
This change also means a cut in staff and administrative positions for the schools. Both Superintendents say before making a decision, they are looking to the communities for feedback, but over all they say it comes down to one thing.
Buckridge says, "our decision is always gonna end up being whats best for kids."
A decision is expected by this spring, and if agreed, it goes into effect the Summer of 2011.
Before they make any decisions, both schools are sending out a survey next week to members of the community.
They're encouraging your feedback.
The next board meeting to discuss the outcome of the survey is January 7th at 7pm at Tintonka schools.
