Ah yes, the age-old mystery of why Westside Community Schools (District 66) isn’t part of Omaha Public Schools. Was it divine intervention? A clerical error? A loophole so brilliant it deserves an honorary law degree? Nope—it’s just classic Omaha history.
Once upon a time (aka the 1940s), some folks west of 72nd Street took one look at OPS and said, “Yeah… we’re good.” They formed their own district, built their own schools, and never looked back. Fast forward a few decades, and now you’ve got a tiny, well-funded suburban-style district smack dab in the middle of the city. Meanwhile, OPS gets to handle, oh, just about everything else.
Some say it’s about “local control.” Others might call it “strategic boundary setting.” Either way, District 66 remains its own little island, keeping things just exclusive enough to maintain that sweet, sweet tax base. But hey, who’s counting? (Spoiler: Everyone.)
And so, the great divide continues. Because in Omaha, nothing says “unified community” quite like drawing lines to keep things separate. 🤷♂️
#WestsideVsOPS #District66 #OmahaLogic
