Complaints were loud and emotions high

I was a teacher for the L&M School system during the 1970s when consolidation with Worthington and Switz City was being considered.

I remember hearing a lot of dialog from many, many people that thought the idea was a terrible one. Complaints were loud and emotions high throughout the three small towns.

I distinctly remember residents of Lyons stating, "There would be no way that consolidation would ever happen!"

The grapevine supported another reality. I understood that the state was going to step in if consolidation was not agreed upon by the three targeted systems.

As it played out, consolidating did occur and it appears the idea had a lot of merit. I'm not a proponent of huge school systems. I was schooled in two small schools, Linton and L&M.

No value can be placed on the personal attention that students received from small class sizes and the teachers. You knew nearly everyone and they knew your family and you. These connections were, "a solid in our lives, always there, always caring."