As a new school year gets underway across District 43, there is a familiar energy returning to our communities. School buses are back on the roads, Friday nights mean football under the lights, and gymnasiums are filling with families cheering on their volleyball teams. Students are beginning another year of FFA, music, and countless other activities that bring families and neighbors together. These moments remind us that our local schools represent something much bigger than education. They are an important part of keeping our small towns alive.

In rural Nebraska, a school is often the heart of the community. It is where friendships are formed, generations gather, and neighbors celebrate the accomplishments of their children and grandchildren.

Whether it is a school concert, an athletic event, an FFA competition, or graduation, our schools give us opportunities to come together and share in the pride of our communities.

But the importance of our schools extends far beyond the classroom. When young families are deciding where to live, one of their first considerations is where their children will attend school. Having a school nearby gives families a reason to put down roots, build a home, and invest in the community. Without that school, attracting new families becomes more difficult, and keeping existing families can become an even greater challenge.

For our ranching and agricultural communities, this connection is especially important. Recruiting and retaining good employees is challenging enough without adding the difficulty of finding a nearby school for their children. A ranch hand considering a job is also considering where their family will live. When children must travel long distances to school every morning and afternoon, an otherwise attractive employment opportunity can become much less practical. Our local schools play an important role in helping ranchers and agricultural businesses attract the workforce they need.

Our small businesses depend on those families, too.

They are the customers who shop at the grocery store, fill up at the gas station, eat at the café, and support businesses along Main Street. They are also employees, business owners, and volunteers who help keep our communities functioning. When families leave, we risk losing customers, workers, volunteer firefighters, community leaders, and the next generation who might choose to open a business or take over the family ranch. Our schools and businesses support one another, and when one begins to disappear, the entire community feels the impact.

That is why we must look at rural education through a broader lens. The conversation cannot simply be about figures on a spreadsheet. What may appear efficient on paper can have lasting consequences for a small town, particularly in geographically isolated areas where students already travel considerable distances. We must recognize the unique challenges facing rural schools and the essential role they play in the communities they serve.

I want to extend my appreciation to the teachers, administrators, coaches, bus drivers, support staff, parents, volunteers, and local businesses who support our schools. Every student who walks through the doors of a rural school represents the promise of another generation. By giving our children the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed close to home, we are helping preserve the communities that make rural Nebraska such a special place to call home.

Staying connected with the people of District 43 is an important part of representing you. I value your questions, concerns, and ideas, and your input continues to help guide my work in the Nebraska Legislature. Please continue to reach out to me or my office. I always appreciate hearing from you. Please note that my email address has changed to tanya.storer@leg. ne.gov Respectfully, Senator Tanya Storer