Consolidation debated

From the Scranton Times-Tribune.

Consolidation debated
BY SARAH HOFIUS HALL
Published: Monday, February 09, 2009
Updated: Monday, February 9, 2009 4:13 AM EST

The 28,250 students in Lackawanna County are enrolled in 10 school districts — each with its own superintendent and administration.

Those superintendents’ salaries total more than $1 million, and the salaries of other administrators — such as business managers, human resource directors and special education supervisors — total millions more.

Gov. Ed Rendell wants to dramatically change that.

In his 2009-10 budget released last week, the governor proposed creating a commission to study how to consolidate the state’s 500 school districts into no more than 100.

Area educators, while not totally opposed to saving money and sharing resources, are questioning the scope of the plan. Others say the benefits would outweigh any costs.

“There’s no doubt there are definite cost savings and benefits for consolidation,” William King, Scranton School District acting superintendent, said. “But ultimately, I think the question is, ‘What is the optimal size so you can deliver the highest-quality education?’ ”

This is not the first time consolidation has been discussed in Pennsylvania. In 1955, there were 2,700 school districts before the Legislature authorized consolidations. By 1962, there were 600. After the Center Area and Monaca school districts in western Pennsylvania voluntarily merge July 1, there will be 500.

Under the governor’s proposal to create a legislative commission to study consolidation, he touts that merging districts would relieve local property tax burdens.

Only 10 states in the country have more school districts, and more than 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s districts have fewer than 2,000 students. Eighty percent educate fewer than 5,000 students.

Reducing the number of districts would not necessarily mean schools would close, but could “instead improve the effectiveness and efficiency of education through other means,” according to the Department of Education.

The proposed commission would have 12 voting members appointed by the General Assembly and would have one year to develop a plan, including optimal enrollment size, boundaries and a plan for implementation.

After two merger plans are adopted by the commission, the Legislature will vote. If the Legislature rejects both plans, the state Board of Education would have authority to implement a plan.

The response to the governor’s proposal has been positive, said Michael Race, Department of Education spokesman.

“It taps into a sentiment out there that there are too many school districts and too much bureaucracy,” he said.

When school districts are bigger entities, they will have larger negotiating powers for contracts from vendors — which equals savings in the budget, Mr. Race added.

District concerns

Area superintendents are concerned with the state making quick decisions and not involving enough people with the planning.

“For us to be disbanded would be overwhelming and an enormous concern to our community,” Michael Mahon, Ph.D., Abington Heights superintendent, said. “If a hypothetical district has taken good care of its buildings, has made prudent financial decisions over time ... for that district to be shut down, and perhaps combined with districts who have done none of that, brings up the question of equity.”

Mr. King said while he thinks there is a “definite need for consolidation,” the size of new school districts must be manageable.

“They’re always preaching, ‘every child by name.’ When you’re running a school district of 20,000, 30,000, 40,000 students, that takes away that possibility,” Mr. King said.

If only 100 school districts are created — the number Mr. Rendell wants — the average district would have 17,000 students.

Joseph Daley, Valley View School District superintendent, said many things need to be analyzed before a consolidation happens, from equalizing employee salaries and who owns school buildings and equipment, to what happens to district athletic teams.

Timothy Allwein, assistant executive director for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said the issue of consolidation often rises when budgets are tight.

The association is researching the idea, but warns “larger school districts give you a larger bureaucracy,” Mr. Allwein said. While only one superintendent may be needed, there will be a need for more supervisors and directors, he added.

Research by the PSBA has shown little benefit to consolidation, Mr. Allwein said.

In 2007, Standard & Poor’s made a presentation to the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on school consolidation. The research group found districts with no more than 3,000 students may be more likely to save money than if districts had more than 3,000 students.

Possible benefits

Many states, including North Carolina and Maryland, have school districts on a county-wide basis.

“It’s certainly not a foreign concept, and it’s a step in the right direction,” said Teri Ooms, executive director of the Wilkes-Barre-based Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development. “I just hope it’s taken seriously and moved forward. I’m really a firm believer that this is a more positive thing for this region.”

Schools would still be able to keep their own identities, and it would bring the opportunities and benefits that are occurring in the wealthier school districts to the others, she said.

Along with cost-sharing, local real estate values would equalize, said John Cognetti, president of Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate.

When buying a home, many parents consider the school district in which home is located. If all of the county, or other large area is one school district, home values in an area with what is now a better district will equalize to those homes now located in poorer districts, Mr. Cognetti said.

“It equalizes the whole county, revitalizes all areas,” he said. “It’s long overdue.”