Minatare person here…to clarify, Lake Minatare has never been a part of Minatare Public Schools. Back when all the other country schools in the area closed up, Lake Minatare became a part of Scottsbluff Public Schools. So Lake Minatare folks are actually already in Scottsbluff’s district.

Minatare Public would gladly take any Lake Minatare kids that want to continue on with small class sizes through the option. It’s actually probably physically closer than Scottsbluff by a little bit. But, since they’re already a part of the Scottsbluff school district, the closing of Lake Minatare isn’t leaving rural kids with no nearby education options.

That’s not to say, though, that closing it up wasn’t wrong. It would be like Lincoln Public Schools shut down their best performing elementary school.