When a school district entrusts its most precious resource—its students—to the care of another community, it is an act of both courage and love. For Dongola USD 66, a rural district tucked into the southeastern corner of Union County, the decision to send its high schoolers to Vienna High School in neighboring Johnson County was born out of necessity but has since become a powerful story of what can happen when communities put children first.

The challenge began when Dongola suddenly lost several of its core high school teachers at once. Already operating with limited resources, the district found itself unable to provide even the most basic academic program for grades 9 through 12. “We weren’t offering frills,” one parent admitted. “We were barely offering the core. And then, suddenly, we couldn’t offer even that.”

Faced with the unthinkable—students without a true high school home—leaders and families explored options. Unexpectedly, Vienna stepped forward. “They came to us and said, Let us help you,” recalled a parent. “It was scary, but it was amazing”.

The relief was immediate for families like Salina Sadler’s, whose son Drake is a senior. Without Vienna’s offer, she and Drake’s dad had considered sending him to live with relatives in another town just so he could finish high school. Instead, Drake now thrives at Vienna, preparing to enlist in the Marines while also earning a laborers’ union certificate. “When I saw that Vienna had options for kids headed into the workforce—not just college—I knew it was the right fit for him,” she said.

Others saw their children flourish academically. Caleb, a Dongola junior, has loaded up on advanced math and dual-credit courses, while his sister, still in eighth grade, is already taking Algebra I via Zoom with Vienna teachers—an opportunity Dongola simply could not have offered. “The doors opening for them are endless,” said his mother, Erin Gaddis, with emotion in her voice.

For students like Kensley, who battles health challenges, the transition was daunting. Her mother, Courtney Pulley, worried about sending her daughter farther from home. But Vienna’s faculty and staff proved welcoming and attentive. They toured the building with the family, met with the school nurse, and assured Kensley she would not be alone. “Every interaction we’ve had with them has been amazing,” her mother said. “They treat our kids like they belong, because they do”.

The arrangement is not without complexity. Dongola’s board approved a two-year agreement with Vienna, leaving families anxious about the future. “We’re still processing,” Superintendent Dr. Paige Maginel admitted. “It’s a matter of balancing community pride with what’s best for kids. But every parent I talk to says their children are happy, engaged, and well-educated. That’s what matters most”.

Financially, the arrangement has proven workable. Dongola pays tuition to Vienna based on state Evidence-Based Funding, meaning no extra burden on local taxpayers. And Vienna has gone above and beyond—adjusting transportation schedules, picking students up at home for early programs, and even inviting Dongola junior high students to dances so they can build friendships before entering high school.

For Dongola, the gesture is bittersweet. The district is proud of its history and identity, yet equally proud of its students who now carry that heritage into another school’s halls. “We didn’t choose this,” Dr. Maginel reflected. “But it has become a beautiful thing for kids. And when you stand behind what’s best for children, that’s where the heart of education truly is”.

It is not easy for a community to hand over its future—even if temporarily. But in Dongola, the act has been one of love, resilience, and vision. Their students are thriving. Their families are relieved. And together with Vienna, they have written a story not of loss, but of hope.