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Merging districts raises control issues
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.
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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."
Tell That to Carmichaels! : 2/6/2009
I applaud the Governor's plan and urge Rep. DeWeese to get behind it 100%. I am sick and tired of these old timers complaining about property taxes in one breath and then saying consolodation is a bad thing in another. GREENE COUNTY DESPERATELY NEEDS IT!!! IS ANYONE LISTENING? Schools just 20 miles from Greene County have 5 times the programs and opportunities for OUR CHILDREN! Get off the fence Rep. DeWeese. You need help, bring that Pizza you promised while you were campaigning and knocking on doors. I'm still waiting! What is sad is the fact that J-M and Mapletown now have to suffer because of the ARROGANCE of the Carmichaels School Board. Those 3 districts couuld have been a step ahead of the game.
Consolidating schools? : 2/6/2009
Well, with people like Rendell and DeWeese in control of such things - that SURE relieves my taxpayer mind. (Sarcastic)
merger : 2/6/2009
Keep in mind that mapletown and jefferson want to consolidate with carmichaels and carmichaels is the hold out they don't want to. It's a shame that is will take this to get these schools consolidated and yes many teachers will lose jobs and administrators will be cut in half too. Carmichaels its time to do this already get off your high horse and do this. Your children are no better then the other schools.
Merger : 2/6/2009
I think consolidation is a good idea for a lot of schools but I don't see how you will ever merge districts in areas like West Greene where they already have kids riding an hour on the bus to get to school unless you annex them to WV. A lot of rural districts that really struggle with funding are just geographically unable to consolidate with anyone.
Merge or county based school boards? : 2/6/2009
Merging is not needful. Just consolidate at the county level with a new equitable school board - with 1 elected district representive from each existing school district. With many school districts being depopulated, put as many students into fewer schools and re-use the buildings for something else - businesses preferably to help generate more money for maintaining the schools. Get rid of the unions's right to strike and make the employees really work for what they get. And make the pre-requisite be that NO board member have ANY direct relation or conflict of interest involved at all. Truly vet them.
rural districts : 2/6/2009
Rendell calling for 400-district reduction is ridiculous, but his tactic is typcial. Ask for 400, get 150,200, etc. There are definitely some economies of scale which could be realized from consolidations, but I agree with SL that rural districts, particularly West Greene that border WV on 2 sides, west and south, would have any good options. In Washington County, districts like Avella, equally small and rural, could not be combined into one and would have to be consolidated into multiple districts. The superintendents quoted in the article are also correct in calling for feasibility studies on whether these moves make economic and logistical sense. It's one thing to call for consolidation--- yet another to bring it off.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS : 2/6/2009
The reason why some do not think its a good idea is because this would break up the cliques
Merge'm All : 2/6/2009
When a student in California, Beth Center or Bentworth does not have the same opportunity to take the same classes that are available in Canon-Mac, Peters Township or nearby USC, then thats not equal education. Several years ago, I read that the Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that kentucky's educational system was unconstitutional because students in Eastern Kentucky did not have the same opportunities as students in Central and western kentucky. After working in higher education for over 24 years, you can tell the difference between the students in Washington County that have had additional opportunities because they came from a high school that had a wealthier tax base than those students who came from a distressed or limited tax base. We now have funding being poured into the sixteen Washington school districts to be used in a variety of ways. Consolidation would have to involve parity in both pay, benefits and retirement for the teaching staff. It would be an opportunity to set an equitable single tax structure for all real estate to fund the County Wide System. We have schools who own their own buses and others who contract bus transportation with private contractors. Its natural for elected officials to be territorial, but in the case of the school board directors, representation from each merged school district could be addressed through membership on a county school board divided politically by geographic or other regional lines. With the infusion of the casino's new money to the school districts, imagine the savings if there was only one County Superintendent, and a few regional assistant Superintendents. Imagine where a student from the Southeastern part of washington County could have the same learning opportunities for elective advanced courses that the Students in Northern Washington County have. There is a lot to be done, It also has the promise of having the school board members elected by a much wider political population. Those school board members who have sacrificed over the years for their individual school districts will now have an opportunity to see how much attention the public paid to their efforts, while those members who just attended meetings and did nothing but rubber stamped the majority's decisions, need to move on witheir life's calling. Under the present districting, when an employer closes up, relocates or abandons a coal mine, that individual district receives a strong financial loss and hit. At least with a county wide system, the impact would be less severe and not as devastating as I have seen some school districts affected in this County. We need to forge a new educational future for our students, and quit fighting over turf wars and local politics.
Get Over It : 2/6/2009
It will only happen when it's forced...GET OVER IT...Carmichaels isn't on a high horse...our school is jammed packed as it is! There is no way that two other districts can merge with them! Why doesn't Mapletown go to Pt. Marion and Jefferson go to West Greene...If we had a "lack of student" problem, I could see it..otherwise it's just NOT going to happen and it has nothing to do with being on a HIGH horse...get over yourself!
Wake Up! : 2/6/2009
Dear Sick of Hearing It, In case you haven't been paying attention, THERE IS A LACK OF STUDENT PROBLEM! Mapletown graduated 46 students last year! If too many teachers call in sick they have to cancel school. On what planet does Carmichaels even compare with a Trinity, Canon-Mac, or Upper St. Clair? ForgeaFuture hit the nail on the head. As someone who TEACHES in an institution of higher learning (that's a college) the facts are that students in Greene County are at a disadvantage. To clarify, the problems in Green county go beyond 'lack of student'. The courses offered in the Greene County School pale in comparison to those in Washington County. In addition, the idea that TEACHERS are going to lose their jobs is false. The student to teacher ratio will remain the same. The people who may lose their jobs are the OVERPAID, POORLY qualified administrators who get their jobs because they are buddy, buddy with the school board members. The old boy network needs to end....FOR OUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!
The real problem : 2/7/2009
The real problem is the following: Only 100 children a year will become class presidents, only 500 or so will be on the student council... only 500 starting basketball players....1100 or so football players.. only 1000 to 1500 high school band members and so on. Every activity will be only done by a small group of people. Large groups of students will be left out of activities that they would have participated in. The result will be more kids left behind socially and a greater need for community activities that will of course not be funded. Beware the law of unintended consequenses. The savings are smaller than people realize and the advantages of classes are not as great as some would claim. In addition, long bus rides for those that live in rural areas. This of course fufills part of the goal of the Democrats and their allies in the green movement of forcing many people into decaying urban areas. Do you honestly believe that Harrisburg will do away with 400 superintendents... No they will create Asst. and Asst to the Asst. Superintendent positions. Look at large school systems like Pittsburgh Public Schools, less say at the local level, more bureaucracy, more children lost in the shuffle.
Why? : 2/7/2009
Why is it that Avella and Ringgold have their superintendent comment about this issue, but Fort Cherry has a "business manager"? Who has control of this district? A business manager or a superintendent? Is that district's citizens that naive?
get over it : 2/7/2009
you're only on a high horse because the carmichaels district won't even consider a feasibility study..thats a high-horse
Left Out, I don't think so.. : 2/7/2009
You can't seriously think a school will turn band member away can you? Have you seen some of the bands in Greene County? They are in serious need of an infusion of students. I graduated from a small school and can tell you the first time I was involved in a large group band experience (MUCH larger than our band) I realized that something was missing in our school. This was in 1985, and I was only 16! The first thing that needs to be done is the study. (Oh wait, Carmichaels already turned it down!) Don't you think the Governor already has some of the facts in front of him? How many superintendents are under 50? Not many. They will soon be retiring. I think an incentive will be forthcoming as well. Again, part of the study. (Oh wait, Carmichaels turned it down!) Wake up and smell the coffee, it's coming and you will not be prepared! (Oh wait, Carmichaels turned it down!)
Mergers : 2/8/2009
If Canon-McMillian merges you will be at the Wendy's Drive-Thru too.
Why? : 2/8/2009
Quit complaining.......Sounds like a personal issue. You miss the whole point of the article as usual.
Why Not? : 2/8/2009
It's "Are" not "Is." It IS good you don't teach English. Good for the PSSAs. Good for students. School Boards control districts as vested by the legislature, simple one.
Merger Nonsense : 3/23/2009
Being a former graduate of Central Greene, I know first hand the fights that go on at that school, just with the rivalries with students from the same school. Think about it, there are school rivalries daily with football and basketball saying my team is better than yours. Not to mention the fights at the football games with rivals. Do you think that it is really going to be different if we bring students from different schools into a rival school? No, the fights are just going to get worst. I think it is a "HUGE" mistake to merge schools together unless you want you student thrown out over a fight or ending up in the hospital due to the same immature, inhumane torture that they will incur. Do you parents want that? I think not!
