One City, Many Districts?

Many of the people who read this went to the same high school as me. We suffered through extreme heat in the summer and walked out to the portables in the snow. We cheered on the Eagles at every sporting event and we danced our hearts out at homecoming and prom. But, that's not all we have in common, we are all united by the fact that we have receieved excellent educations from Omaha Central and Omaha Public Schools. Central High School is a nationally known school. We have graduates who leave the halls here and go on to do things in every aspect of society. No matter where our lives have taken us, we remain loyal to the high school and district that gave us so much. Our district has given so much and now it is time we give back to it. We can not and will not allow the state legislature to split Omaha Public Schools into three different districts. Not only will it destroy the strength of OPS, but it will hurt everyone. The division racially segregates Omaha even more than on a physical level, but on an academic level as well. What good comes from a lack of diversity? This is a step backwards. A nod to Plessy v. Ferguson. Central High School is one of the most diverse schools that any student can ever run across. But, what will it be after these changes? What could Heineman have been thinking when he approved this law?

Yes, it is true that more work needs to be done to provide equal education to all children of Omaha, but dividing Omaha even more racially will not help. There is more to school than just book learning. School is also about social interractions. School is about making friends, learning to get along with others, and exploring a world of knowledge and cultures. How can we expect Omaha to succeed as a city of diversity, when our children will have little to no interraction with different cultures? We cannot and will not allow to this to stand. So alumni of Central High. What are you going to do to support the district that gave you your closest friends, some of your happiest and saddest moments, and a strong education that has helped you to succeed in any activity you undertook?