GENOA, NE - After months of deliberation and multiple meetings, Twin River Public Schools has finally decided the fate of Silver Creek Elementary School.

The school board approved the recommendation to move all of the students to the Genoa site.  A decision that upset many residents of the Silver Creek community.

Superintendent, John Weidner, understands concerns within the community, but felt that this was the right decision…a tough one being made in many rural communities across Nebraska.

“A school is a district’s identity,” Weidner says. “But if you look at rural districts across Nebraska, there have been a lot of school closings.”

Weidner says that in a study he did from 2005 to 2009, the number of districts in Nebraska went from over 700 down to just over 250.  Though that was a decade ago, he’s seeing similar things happening today.

“The trend will continue,” he says. “We’re just going to see why the reduction in rural students.”

The transition is set to go into place this coming Fall when school is set to begin.