Declining enrollment has one Nebraska school district in a dire situation and a lot of change is coming all at once.

The Coleridge Community School board has an important decision to make- with four possible scenarios.

One: Nothing changes.

Two: Develop a common middle school with partner school- laurel-concord.

Three: Go to other districts for help.

Or four: Consolidate.

A shrinking rural population and number of students has led to budget shortfalls at Coleridge schools.

To keep the school open- the district has been sharing with the Laurel-Concord school district for several years.

"Sharing between the two schools, sharing expenses, sharing teachers, sharing resources had kept both schools in a situation to stay intact and to flourish." Says Superintendent Rich Patton.

But, they're at a point where something has to be done.

Best case scenario- Coleridge becomes a middle school only. Meaning, Laurel-Concord fifth through eighth graders would go to coleridge.

In addition, Coleridge high school students would go to Laurel-Concord.

Worst case scenario?

Coleridge could close its doors for good at the end of the school year.

"It's a very unique situation, unique in Nebraska and probably most of rural America." Says Patton.

"I want this building to stay open and visible and I hope we can work with Laurel-Concord. Kind of got to put it in the school boards hands, because they've never steered me wrong. Its always been what's best for the kids." Says Coleridge resident and mother of two Coleridge students, Susan Kurtzhals.

The next step is for the Coleridge school board to make its recommendation and wait for Laurel to accept it or not.

In a Coleridge school board meeting Thursday November 5th, the board decided to renew their committment to move the middle school, but tabled their final decision until after Laurel-Concord makes a decision.

Whatever the outcome, a decision must be reached by the end of November.