The ongoing saga of school consolidation is often played like a drama, but it's really more like reality TV.

There's a long list of small towns in which the population trend continues to spiral. Some of their residents are dying off, some are heading out of state, and some are moving to bigger cities such as Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

Regardless, their numbers are dwindling, and so are enrollments at their individual schools.

That's what folks in Midland have had to deal with in recent years as they faced the task of consolidating with a nearby school district - in their case, Kadoka.

That consolidation, which is never easy, has been handled relatively well.

But despite the quickening evaporation of the state's small-town population, many small school districts hold steadfast against a stark reality: more schools must close.

Small towns have the right to fight for survival. And few would argue that a good school can be the cornerstone to attracting new residents. But we must consider at what expense.

In western South Dakota, most small districts are far apart geographically, making it unfeasible to consolidate.

However, in eastern South Dakota, small school districts continue to exist, even build anew, despite the fact that consolidation would likely improve educational opportunities and certainly reduce taxes for local and state residents alike.

The issue is called sparsity, and West River lawmakers have carried the issue to Pierre more than once. However, East River lawmakers - many from these small towns so nearby - have been reluctant to embrace it.

And as long as they do, taxpayers in larger cities such as Rapid City and Sioux Falls will help subsidize - through funding from the state - the schools' existence.

And as long as they do, they fail to look at what is the best for the students with the taxpayers' dollars.

We urge our local lawmakers to carry on the fight again to look at the issue purposefully and objectively, to reach the best possible way to teach ALL of our students.