School District Consolidation in Pennsylvania

Martha Raffaele & Ramesh Santanam:

Pennsylvania will be shedding a school district by the end of this school year -- a significant development even after years of nationwide efforts to nudge and sometimes force school systems to share services or merge.

The merger unfolding between two western Pennsylvania public school systems with sharply declining enrollments is the state's first district consolidation in at least 20 years, and most notably, its first voluntary one.

Officials say the move will save money and improve educational offerings, yet parents in both districts worry that some losses will accompany any gains. In any case, the consolidation is expected to be closely watched.

The willingness of two school districts to dissolve boundary lines is rare in states where local school board control is sacrosanct and school traditions that define a community are deeply ingrained. In recent years, at least a few states have tried to force mergers, with mixed results.

Yet the marriage of the Center Area and Monaca school districts northwest of Pittsburgh is part of a gradual, ongoing national progression toward fewer districts educating public school students.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at September 4, 2008 6:44 AM
Subscribe to this site via RSS/Atom: Newsletter signup | Send us your ideas