The Pew Research Center finds that only 63 percent of rural Americans have a broadband internet connection at home, and 24 percent of rural adults consider access to high speed internet a major problem in their community.
Recent policy developments are designed to address this. But, will they be enough?
Like most rural schools in Nebraska, Diller-Odell Public Schools faces an imbalanced funding stream caused by a complex property tax and school funding system.
While no school is the same, Diller-Odell, located on the Jefferson-Gage County line along the Kansas border, shows the tumultuous times rural schools and the agriculture economy have faced in recent years. With little state funding, the district is reliant on local property taxes and, because of a recent spike in land valuations, most of the burden is on area farmers.
Local foods are not just a trend, they’re a means to benefit our health, economy, and local producers. From the abundance of rural farmers markets to menus in city restaurants, local foods are cropping up more throughout our state. Another place they’re emerging is our local schools.
