As school officials finalize their latest plan for rezoning Buchanan and River Valley school districts to accommodate students living in Galien, we would like to commend them for their leadership and encourage leaders from surrounding communities to follow their lead.

Despite undergoing what must have been a very difficult time for this school board as the longstanding school district finally decided to close its doors in 2012, the leaders of this community have continued to work hard to ensure their students are taken care of properly.

While there has been dispute over where the the community should be divided (some say Cleveland Road, others Gardner), the split seems to be a fair compromise.

School leaders with Berrien RESA and the involved school districts have ensured that residents of Buchanan and Three Oaks do not acquire the debt of the dissolved Galien school district, and Galien school board leaders are in the process of selling the school buildings in order to help pay off the village’s outstanding millage.

A lot of hard work has been done by all involved in order to ensure that students are minimally affected and school districts are treated equally. Considering the potential for chaos and confusion that could easily have ensued with the closing of the Galien school district, it seems those in charge have found a sound and fair solution on which everyone can agree with.

This example of leadership and dedication is one from which school districts all over the region can learn from and aspire.

 

Opinions expressed are those of the editorial board consisting of Publisher Michael Caldwell and editors Ambrosia Neldon, Craig Haupert, Ted Yoakum and Scott Novak.