Defining Local Control

My Views Are My Own

By Lisa Schonhoff, Ed.S.

9/2/2025

Following another back-to-school season, educators and students are back in the swing of

teaching, learning, and busy schedules.  Many parents have reached out to me with a variety of concerns and of course I am happy to help when possible. 

Local Control is top on the list of my priorities.  As I campaigned throughout District 3 for nearly two years, I heard a constant refrain from constituents that they are tired of bureaucracy and red tape when it comes to education.  They want local control!  We can’t have people in Washington DC and across the country, as well as around the world for that matter, telling us what is best for our kids in Nebraska.  Parents want and deserve to have a say in the education of their children. It’s so important that it’s listed as the Tenth Amendment in our constitution!   Local control keeps the decision making closest to the kids and communities. 

I did not stop hearing about local control after I got elected by the constituents who voted for me. I hear about it often by the senators, administrators at the Nebraska Department of Education as well local administrators.  Does the idea of local control give our elected officials and top administrators a means to elude accountability?  I think the answer is yes and no. 

When we say that we want local control, we are saying two things: parents and community members are involved with local officials, and the local school board members and administrators listen to members of the community. In summary, everyone who cares has a seat at the table. Although this is what should happen in theory, there is often tension coming from both sides.

Local constituents need to elect local school board members that will effectively represent their communities.  Then, they need to show up to local school board meetings and respectfully hold their elected officials accountable.  Local control means that community members show up and take part in the decision-making process.  Without showing up, local control really doesn’t hold much meaning, as those who hold the voting and decision-making power will move forward with making critical decisions that may not align with the majority of the community’s sentiments. It is vitally important that parents and people in any community feel free to have dialogue with school board members so that their elected officials have a pulse on the concerns of their own community. If parents are silenced or feel intimidated, then the term “local control” is essentially meaningless.