GROUP: CONSOLIDATION ISN'T A SILVER BULLET
Monday, February 7th, 2011 -- 2:33 PM
Last week, [url=http://www.cwbradio.com/news/index.php?p=news&fn_mode=fullnews&fn_incl=1&fn_id=5081]we told you about[/url] two northern Wisconsin school districts that are among the few who have taken the consolidation plunge in recent years. The Chetek-Weyerhauser school district is in its first year of operation and things are going well.But, [url=http://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/consolidation-schools-districts]a new study[/url] says consolidation may have long-term consequences that out-weigh the short-term benefits.
Tom Beebe with the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools says a perfect storm of declining enrollments, decreased state aid and more lax rules governing open enrollment could force many districts to the brink this year. His advice: ?take it easy.?
"This is one of the tools school districts have. I would urge them to take it easy when they use that tool," Beebe says.
A recent study by the National Education Policy Center shows consolidation can have a negative impact on communities and the quality of education in some districts.
Beebe says don?t get his group wrong: consolidation might make sense in certain instances, but blanket state policies that directly or indirectly force schools to merge can have unintended consequences.
"Some of the findings are there isn't a lot of money saved...or there are some studies that show there are (negative) social consequences. We know, in most instances, learning takes place at a higher rate in small learning environments," Beebe says.
Another problem in Wisconsin is consolidation often leads two declining enrollment districts to combine, forming one slightly larger district with declining enrollments.
"What's sad is people are looking for a silver bullet because the state is drastically under-funding their schools. They're looking for an easy way out and there isn't an easy way out," he says.
Beebe?s group has lobbied for a one-cent increase to the state sales tax to support education funding. They say that would raise an additional $800-million annually.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.