Gov. Pat Quinn is considering a school consolidation plan that could reduce Illinois' current 867 school districts to no more than 300. Quinn maintains consolidation could save taxpayers $100 million annually through elimination of administrators and improved efficiency.
How do you think the Oak Grove School Community should respond at this time? Take the simple poll on the right.
There are good arguments on both sides of this issue. We can't turn a blind eye on the possibility that this could become reality for us. Therefore, if we're proactive by bringing some ideas to the table regarding potential consolidation, we may be able to affect a positive outcome for Oak Grove School. What makes sense is to consolidate with District 70, as that district is made up of schools that already feed into Libertyville High School.
ReplyDeleteOpposition is a good approach, however, I strongly urge the school board to have a detailed plan with approvals to consolidate with District 70 prior to a mandate to consolidate with an undesirable district. We need to be realistic that an opposition will likely be unsuccessful and have quality contingency planning in place. Therefore, I strongly support a consolidation plan with district 70.
ReplyDeleteAll emotion aside, we need to be proactive and energize our local base to create and put forth a realistic, intelligent argument to keep Dist 128 and its K-8 feeder system in place. That argument includes economic, academic and other components already highlighted in the Position Statement. However, we'd be well served to have a few contingency plans in place that include neighboring districts that seem to align with Dist 128, as the mechanism for consolidation remains abstract.
ReplyDeleteAn additional consideration is the potential impact on our personal and buisiness property values should consolidation not go as we'd prefer.
This is but one of many budgetary changes we face in this state, and I'm afraid it's just reality. Many states have painfully, but successfully consolidated districts over time, so we have to face this collectively and realistically.
I agree with the local vs. State argument, however, considering the dire shape of the State budget I am not sure we will have much of a choice regarding consolidation. With this in mind, it is imperative we begin scenario planning among ourselves and then with our partners in surrounding districts. Although the clearest option from a local viewpoint is to consolidate with the schools that feed District 128, it will be important to plan for a number of additional scenarios. Ideally, this will lend Oak Grove a credible voice in the discussion of redistricting, allowing us to have some level of control over our own future should redistricting actually occur.
ReplyDeleteI am doing my best to form a truly educated opinion that goes beyond the natural resistance to change that many of us possess- especially when it involves our children’s education.
ReplyDeleteHere’s what I have learned:
- The District’s Position Statement emphasizes that local voters should make any consolidation decisions. Clearly, their strategy at this point is to concentrate their objection to the process of deciding consolidation, not the end result of an actual consolidation.
- Governor Quinn sees across the board inefficiencies that could be alleviated with state-wide consolidation, resulting in substantial savings and improved educational resources. This proposed action is consistent with the political philosophy of the Quinn administration, which was endorsed by the Teacher’s Union this past July.
Here’s what I have not learned:
- If consolidation does occur what is the micro (day-to-day) and macro (year-to-year) impact on my child’s education?
As the parent of 3 students in the district this is the single most important question to me...and the answer will determine which side of the issue I will support. I understand many of the other negatives of consolidation (lower district test score averages = lower property values, etc) that impact my wallet, but in the end it is the education of my children that is of utmost importance to me.
OGBE, what is the answer to my question?
Oak Grove School District 68 recently sent a letter explaining that Gov. Quinn has proposed school district consolidations across Illinois and Oak Grove’s position.
ReplyDeleteI believe the administration and the school board in this letter have overlooked or failed to address two major issues.
The first “time is of the essences”. House Bill (HB) 1216 authorizes the creation of a commission that would study school consolidation and within 60 days of the creation of the commission, they must provide a report with recommendation of new school districts and boundaries, legislative approval of the commission recommendations are to follow within 14 days. Therefore, once HB1216 is passed, the clock starts and within 60 days the commission will make recommendations at which time the legislature will have 14 days to approve or disapprove the recommendations. Once the legislature approves the recommendations, Oak Grove’s fate will be sealed and the school district will have until July 2012 to implement the State approved plan. TO BE CLEAR WE DO NOT HAVE UNTIL 2012 TO OPPOSE THE LEGISLATION RATHER WE HAVE ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS!!!
Second, the Illinois Government could use school consolidation as a means to “equalize the education system” (i.e. factor 4 “undetermined means”). Such an effort would result in taking a financially stable school district (such as Oak Grove) and consolidate it with a school district in need of funding. As a result Oak Grove’s tax dollars would be redistributed to support a currently underfunded district rather than state funds providing such support. Highlighting the financial stability of Oak Grove (as the districts statement did) is not an advised action plan as you highlight that it would be a good target to assist a suffering district.
With the financial crisis that Illinois is in, it is clear that consolidation is a reality and any effort to prevent it will be futile.
Therefore, a plan needs to be developed and implemented to consolidate into a desirable district (i.e. district 70) ahead of a possible government mandate to consolidate. While there is always resistance to change the familiar and many factors to consider, choosing the district to consolidate with rather being mandated by the state government will lead to a better result for all those involved.
Unfortunately, the district has little time for debate as the longer we wait the more likely a state mandate will be issued.
As a district we should proactively seek another district to consolidate with; my recommendation would be district 70. District 70 makes sense in that we already share a high school and have similar demographics. This way, we fulfill Gov. Quinn’s desire but protect our interest (students, property taxes, property values, and the overall well-being). Consolidation with district 70 should insulate Oak Grove, as district 70 is already large and therefore unlikely to be consolidated further by the State.