School Consolidation Issue
- By David Baria
- Published 10/19/2009
Faced with another year of declining revenue and a very lean budget, the legislature will be asked to look at consolidating schools. Here is an article discussing the issue.
http://www.nems360.com/printer_friendly/4049749
The primary question for me is whether consolidation will really save money? If so, then we need to consider it unless consolidation would result in providing an inferior educational experience for Mississippi schoolchildren. Your comments on this issue are welcomed.
http://www.nems360.com/printer_friendly/4049749
The primary question for me is whether consolidation will really save money? If so, then we need to consider it unless consolidation would result in providing an inferior educational experience for Mississippi schoolchildren. Your comments on this issue are welcomed.
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18 Responses to "School Consolidation Issue" 
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 12:48:21 PM CST
Consolidation would mean less school districts thus fewer Superintendents, Asst Sups, support staff, etc so on the surface it would look like a way to save money. About 10 years ago the City of Miami had the same # of pupils as all of the pupils in the state of MS with one Superintendent but obviously a need for lots of support staff. Over the years there have been a few successful consolidations. At one time Bolivar Co had 7 districts. How many do they have now? If we could just get one school district per county we would have only 82....But politics being what they are I'm not very hopeful. Thanks for your hard work on all of our issues. I'm very impressed. P.S. Let's get Diamondhead incorporated....
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 8:38:28 AM CST
I can see where it wouldn't save money. Here in Harrison County we have six (6) school districts. One each for the five cities and one more for the county. Add the staff salries, administrative expenses and facilities costs for the 6 boards and I bet the savings from consolidation would be considerable.
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 9:01:59 AM CST
consolidating school districts may save a little but it makes larger districts which tend to be less responsive to the local parents. Larger consolidated school districts usually end up requiring more administration,more programs,and less local control. I was an administrator in California Schools and can say that consolidating school districts did not save money! Consolidation alienated parents,created bureaucratic confusion, and created layer upon layer of "passing the buck".
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 5:48:14 PM CST
Mississippi districts are far too small for the most part and elected Superintendents are often unprepared to serve. School administration is not political! School boards should have as a basic requirement for membership, a university degree, not a GED!
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 5:55:16 PM CST
Additionally I served as a teacher and administrator in California whose population is eleven times that of Mississippi and whose student bodies are far more diverse, but whose educational results are far better than Mississippi's. I taught at a high school which had more students than Hancock County and Bay-Waveland school districts combined and over 90% of our student body graduated and went on to college.
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 9:49:50 AM CST
I have 28 years in the classroom, so I'm looking at the issue from a teacher's perspective. Comparing national averages with state averages is meaningless. To assume that the needs of one district is the same as any other is the same logic that gave us No Child Left Behind.
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 11:26:35 AM CST
Hi, David, indeed it is lean times everywhere...but then you see some around you (in D/head) who just go along with their lives as before and don't care what is happening to others (as if they ever did) as long as it doesn't affect their personal way of living.
I agree with you...if it would be detrimental to already deficient school systems in Mississippi, then I am not for it (thanks Gov. Barbour for the cuts in education. Why didn't he cut his salary? How much do you need in these times?). By the way, does the State/ Barbour still have the five jet planes? Were any sold as we were told "they" were trying to do? You see it every day here in Hancock County. People are losing their homes (I am trying to hold on to mine on Social Security along - and my deteriorating health), autos (did I mention losing jobs, which is the basis of part of their situation?). Hang in, David. You are doing a good job. Much better than Gene Taylor is doing for us nationall. Best of luck. Sue |
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 2:09:35 PM CST
Senator Baria, I have extended experience in working in public schools - even recalling the suggestions years ago mentioned in Bobby Harrison's artical to consolidate schools. I remain convinced that MS has too many school systems, leading to duplication of particularly administrative positions (special educ, curriculum at various levels, lunchroom, you name it, supervisors) and these positions are locally funded for the most part and are paid well - better than teachers where our money should be focused. As one example, take Jackson County - 4 school systems - Jackson County (the largest with about 9,000), Ocean Springs and Pascagoula/Gautier (about 4000 each) and Moss Point (2500)[best guesses]. Put supervisors in all these districts at salaries in the $75-100 range and the savings are obvious. Four reports are going to the State Department of Education (which does not hesitate to demand "reports" - another problem that should be addressed since the SDE is bloated also). The average school system in MS is not the issue - size varies tremendously. What is the question is optimal and functional size for schools and systems that reduce duplication. With computers and technology, small systems are an anomaly. If you want to see a county system with community schools that is functioning pretty well, look into Itawamba in NE MS. They have principles who are running schools and a central administration that is not over-bloated - and I used to consult in that system.
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 6:03:59 PM CST
Some good points are made showing how administrative costs would be reduced with less districts. Again, having superintendents selected by educated school board members who would carefully select such persons is vital to success.
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said this on 21 Oct 2009 9:44:05 PM CST
I wonder how top heavy our system her in the Bay is? I understand that the last principal from Bay High was given a job in the district office as a grant writer. I have always been interested in salary v. dollar amount gained through her efforts to write grants.
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said this on 22 Oct 2009 4:01:44 PM CST
Yes, consolidation would work. Anywhere but Mississippi. Let me tell you how the Feds would handle an issue of this sort. A Demo Project would be set up with basic guidelines; then a geographic location would be picked; then the Demo Project would be instituted for a specifc amount of time. Let's say, as example only: Project Name: Consolidate Schools; Location: Harrison County; Time frame: three years. Evaluation would be made after each semester, or whatever is agreed to by the participants. Project guidelines would be altered as necessary to accomplish the goals. Final Eval would be made at Project end-date; or Project could be extended or adopted. Sound simple? Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. But I've seen it work many times. Just takes a really positive motivation to make it work.
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said this on 22 Oct 2009 4:42:05 PM CST
avid--Consolidation of Buildings, Superintendents (good luck) High salared professionals would help erhaps the lowly teacher acquire more materials with which to teach and make room for outside avenues of learning for children. Unforltunately, that may not be as intimate a school system as we have now, but something MUST be done to promote better education for our children of MS
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 3:26:55 PM CST
David, Judging by the variety of comments the solution seems complex. Maybe the Recovery School District could do more than take over low performing school districts. If they were set up to do an analysis of the school system they could develop a model to compare various school systems to. The success of the school districts should indicate what changes might work. The whole thing could then be re-evaluated after the changes were introduced.
A critical element of this process would be the members of the Recovery School District. Getting qualified people, with good judgement, with the skills necessary to communicate successfully with the school district officials below them would be a key ingredient. Another key ingredient would be to keep political influence from affecting the analytical function of the Recovery School District. Comparative analysis should work if we can implement the indicated changes and then measure their effectiveness. |
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 6:15:22 PM CST
I agree, something must be done now to get Mississippi going in public education. Consolidation will improve the product. "Intimacy" is not the answer to achievements in education, efficiency of operation under intelligent, well trained educators is!
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 6:20:30 PM CST
I am glad that you won your seat and represented a movement away from the "good old boy" complex that has kept Mississippi in the mid-20th Century. I hope that you give serious consideration to changes in Mississippi public education which will lead this state to greatness! It is possible and consolidation could be a move in that direction.
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said this on 29 Oct 2009 6:27:09 PM CST
I hope that my previous comment was received. If not I say go for it Dave, you are a refreshing change from the "good old boy network" past which has held Mississippi back. We need better teacher training, better professional leadership, educated school board members and appointed professional superintendents, as well as consolidation.
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said this on 20 Nov 2009 1:54:26 PM CST
I agree that board memebers should be more educated. We have a bunch of peole that have never even stepped into the classroom deciding what is best for our children. Keep the small schools. Children learn better in small groups. Small schools have less violence and have proven to be a safer environment. Get rid of all the high paid elected officials and appoint someone that has an interest in the education of children, not keeping political promises.
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