Area school officials say some consolidation of districts may be a good idea. The questions are: how and where?
Gov. Ed Rendell wants to create a commission that pares Pennsylvania school districts down to 100 because he thinks it will save money, primarily in administrative costs. There will be 500 districts as of July 1 after two in Beaver County merge.
The commission would have one year to develop a plan for the reorganization of school districts. It would be responsible for determining optimal enrollment size, new boundaries and an implementation plan.
Rendell, who presented the plan during his budget address Wednesday, wants the commission to adopt two merger plans, and the state Legislature would be required to vote on both within six months. If the plans are rejected, the state Board of Education would be given the authority for merging school districts.
"It's extremism," said Fort Cherry business manager Paul Sroka. "One hundred is not workable."
Sroka said some consolidation is a good idea, but the dynamics of an area need to considered. If one district surrounds another, such as the Center Area and Monaca districts in Beaver County, then merging is more feasible, Sroka said. Those two districts are voluntarily merging this summer.
"It requires some homework," he said. "You're asking people to give up local control."
He said a more reasonable number is 375 or 400, adding that consolidating down to 100 is "idealistic."
"Are there too many districts in Pennsylvania? Absolutely," Sroka said. "Probably at least 100 too many."
Washington business manager Rick Mancini called Rendell's suggestion an "interesting proposal." He said he wants to know more about the details before commenting about Rendell's plan further.
He said Washington County probably doesn't need 14 school districts and that there's merit to considering mergers.
"Yet no one wants to give up local control," he said.
And that's the crux of the situation: Since Pennsylvania schools were created, they have been running on local control, Sroka said.
The state stepped in during the 1950s and 1960s, consolidating 2,700 districts to 600 in 1962. Southeastern Greene, Carmi-chaels Area and Jefferson-Morgan in Greene County considered merging, but those plans fell through about a year ago.
Avella Superintendent Wayde Killmeyer said districts already have the option to consolidate. They haven't, which means they don't want to, he said.
The conversation comes up in his district, he said.
"People living here don't want to be part of any other district," he said.
Killmeyer said 500 is a lot of districts for the state. The only benefit he could see to merging is having enough students for activities, such as the football team.
Aside from that, he doesn't see many other advantages.
Research shows that a smaller school is better for students, Killmeyer said. Unless they are going to leave schools as they are and only consolidate central office staff, Killmeyer doesn't think it will be good for children.
"It sounds like there should be savings, but I am not convinced," he said.
Ringgold Superintendent Gary Hamilton said the concept of consolidation should be studied. Neighborhood schools might go by the wayside, he said.
"Maybe some smaller districts coming together would be a good idea," he said. "People need some relief from their taxes. You can't go to the well all the time. Everything should be on the table."
State Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, said it's premature to speculate what the final number of districts will be. However, he thinks consolidation is a long time coming.
Ten years ago, he was saying it's necessary. Though he doesn't have a specific number in mind, DeWeese doesn't think Greene County needs five districts.
Like Rendell, he believes consolidation will save money. DeWeese also thinks it will either level off or lower property taxes.
"It would be shortsighted not to get involved up to our eyeballs in this one-year study," DeWeese said of the Legislature. "It will be front and center this spring."