Unlike in 1963, when the state mandated the consolidation of schools under 1,000 students, consolidation of schools in 2008 may focus on reducing administrative costs.
The consolidation push of the 1960s saw Indiana go from 963 school corporations to 382.
The Kernan-Shepard Commission, which was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels to look at government reform, recommended the consolidation of school systems of less than 2,000 students as a way to reduce property taxes in Indiana.
Area lawmakers don’t expect the Indiana General Assembly to address the issue of school consolidation until the 2009 session.
Lawmakers envision a consolidation of administrative services with basically one superintendent for an entire county and the assistant supervisors to oversee individual school systems.
For the five school systems operating in Howard County, a total of $1.5 million was spent in 2006 on salaries, benefits and operations in the superintendent’s office according to the Indiana Department of Education website.
Based on the 2007 tax rates, the decrease in property tax rates could range from 2 cents in Kokomo to 7 cents for the Taylor schools. Eastern, Western and Northwestern could see a decline of 4 cents.
“I see it as an absolute benefit if the character of the community is preserved,” Sen. Brandt Hershman said of consolidation. “It will provide the opportunity to offer more classes options as a result of the economies of scale.”
Unlike in 1963, when consolidation meant the closing of schools, Hershman said the mergers don’t have to be based on geographic boundaries and the closing of local schools.
“I see it more as administrative consolidation,” he said, “one or two superintendents per county. The savings would be in the area of administrative costs, which is not an enhancement to the quality of education.”
Rep. Ron Herrell said consolidation of schools will be a rough process and he has several concerns.
One concern is the school system that has 1,998 students, just under the 2,000 threshold number, he said. Herrell said the next year that school system could go above the 2,000 number.
“There are advantages to smaller schools,” Herrell said. “Students can be involved in more activities in a smaller school situation.”
Herrell is concerned consolidation will mean bigger class sizes.
“I don’t see it improving the education process at all,” he said. “The cost per student is calculated by the state.”
Rep. Jim Buck said no studies have been conducted to determine the potential savings to taxpayers.
“A study has to look at the student-teacher ratio and whether not buildings will be closed,” he said. “I don’t believe that is realistic.”
Buck said savings will only come through a reduction in administrative costs.
“Maybe we should be looking at one school superintendent for counties of less than 100,000 people,” he said. “That would cover a lot of the Indiana counties.”
All three lawmakers agreed school consolidation will not be considered in 2008.
Hershman said he anticipates a summer study will be appointed to conduct an expanded review of the recommendation.
“Some school systems have been looking at consolidation,” he said. “It is being discussed at some level in certain counties.”
Hershman said there is $250,000 available in grant funds for school systems to study consolidation.
“There are a lot of questions that need to be answered,” Herrell said. “There has to be input from parents, school boards and staff members. They all have to be on board.”
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