Consolidation plan has support, critics

From the BCCT

As long as the plan doesn't turn out like this commentary from "Frazz"...

Consolidation plan has support, critics
Gov. Ed Rendell proposed studying whether the number of districts in Pennsylvania can be slashed from 501 to 100.
By GARY WECKSELBLATT

Ronald Stockham’s ancestors settled in Pennsylvania before William Penn.

A 10th-generation Morrisville resident, he has a historical perspective on the challenges faced by the tiny Morrisville School District of 831 students, which has tried to merge with neighboring Pennsbury.

The move may have gained steam this week when Gov. Ed Rendell proposed creating a commission to study whether the number of school districts in Pennsylvania can be slashed from 501 to 100.

“We need to find more effective ways to make education more efficient,” state Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak said. “If you really study it, you can determine if there are savings to be gained.”

Stockham, 66 and a Morrisville attorney, is all for a merger with Pennsbury’s 11,064 student body.

“I support and applaud Gov. Rendell’s proposal,” he said. “It’s not efficient to keep throwing money for duplication and services. It’s about time ... long overdue.”

Back in 1933, when Stockham’s mother taught at Morrisville High School, the surrounding school districts of Fallsington, Lower Makefield and Yardley sent their high school students to Morrisville High on a tuition basis.

In the late 1950s, when Stockham attended Morrisville High, Pennsbury High School used Morrisville’s Robert Morris Athletic Field for its home football games and track meets.

“Both historical precedent and current economic conditions indicate that the Morrisville School District and Pennsbury School District should be entering into mutually beneficial arrangements as the right thing to do,” he said.

Back in the 1950s, when it was home to the second shopping center on the east coast, Morrisville had a strong economic base. At that time, Pennsbury sought a merger.

“They’ve been talking about this for decades,” said Mike Fitzpatrick, Morrisville’s solicitor. “It’s never had the support of both districts at the same time.”

Recently, Fitzpatrick has asked Pennsbury and other local districts to consider taking about 300 students in grades nine through 12 on a tuition basis.

Fitzpatrick called Rendell’s plan an affirmation of Morrisville’s recent actions and intent to partner with neighboring districts.

“The Commonwealth can be a partner to assist economically fragile districts by providing incentives for neighboring larger districts to partner with smaller ones.” he said.

Linda Palsky, a member of the Pennsbury School Board, said she’s “very interested” to hear more of Rendell’s plan because “some smaller school districts throughout the state could be better served” by merging.

“But my number one concern is the quality of education for Pennsbury students and the cost to taxpayers, especially as we approach some very, very difficult financial times.”

Rendell contends that fewer districts would mean less of a local tax burden on property owners by spreading the share of school costs over a larger number of people.

It’s been done before. Back in the 1960s, when the Commonwealth had more than 2,000 districts, the state ordered districts to consolidate.

Still, more than 40 percent of the state’s school districts enroll fewer than 2,000 students each, and more than 80 percent enroll fewer than 5,000.

“Almost everyone agrees that Pennsylvania has too many school districts,” Rendell said during Wednesday’s budget address. “This means that we have ever-increasing pressure to increase local property taxes.”

Locally, after Morrisville, Bristol Borough [1,193], New Hope Solebury [1,551], Palisades [1,990] and Upper Moreland [3,041] are the only districts with fewer than 5,000 students. The largest are Central Bucks [20,359], North Penn [12,772], and Pennsbury.

In 2007, Standard & Poor’s reported to the state’s Legislative Budget and Finance Committee on the cost-effectiveness of consolidating school districts. It estimated savings would be more likely if the combined enrollments were less than 3,000 students.

Palisades superintendent Francis Barnes, who previously held Zahorchak’s job, questioned whether consolidation actually saves the money it promises.

“It’s a noble goal, but I don’t understand how that would do it,” he said.

Tim Allwein, assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, told The Associated Press his organi zation hopes to work with the commission but is not convinced that school district merg ers save large amounts of money