The Butler School Board acted reasonably and responsibly when going through the process of adopting a school consolidation plan. A construct that recognizes a dialectic of conflicting constituencies, Option 4B is a moderate, middle-of-the-road, imperfect solution to the causes and effects of a declining student population. Chosen from more than several official alternatives, it disappoints both anxious parents and harried taxpayers alike.

That’s what makes Plan 4B a fair one. At least that’s what I think.

However, there is still a posse of helicopter parents out there — Parents for Quality Schools — who just don’t get the art of compromise. They reject 4B and embrace gridlock by calling for more meetings, more discussion, more analysis, more data and more assurance from district managers.

That’s all just nonsense at this point. Public debate on this issue finally had to end, and that’s what happened onJan. 16 with a 6-3 vote by the board of directors.

My advice to the Parents for Quality Schools is to face reality, embrace change and go with it. They’ll find out from their kids next fall that walking to school is overrated, riding a bus can be a pleasant experience, and that scary old junior high building is not so bad after all.