A Proposal for Our Schools
The Greater Albany Public School District is facing a projected $7 million budget deficit for the 2011-12 school year, followed by a projected $8 million budget deficit for the 2012-13 school year. Many proposals have been suggested in an effort to close this gap, including the closing of three schools – Fir Grove, Fairmount and Takena – for an estimated savings of $400,000. However, one proposal that I have long considered, to my knowledge, has not yet been considered. That is, to consolidate school districts.
Currently Linn County has five school districts (and, it follows, five superintendents and five central offices). These five districts – Albany, Lebanon, Sweet Home, Central Linn and Scio - serve just six high schools, as well as their feeder schools. What I propose is a consolidation of these five school districts into a single Linn County School District (which would also include North Albany).
First, a look at the numbers
I was able to obtain some 2008-09 financial data from the website “Openbooks”. During the 2008-09 school year, Linn County school districts spent the following amounts on Central Office expenditures:
Albany $1, 836,206
Lebanon $1,112,231
Sweet Home $ 437, 872
Scio $ 413, 031
Central Linn $ 370, 451
Closing down the central offices of the four smallest districts, could potentially yield a savings of approximately $1,920,967. Openbooks has separate categories for expenditures for buildings and business services and technology, so it’s possible that there may be additional savings available.
Precedence
Many areas around the country align their school districts by county. One example is Montgomery County, Maryland, which borders the District of Columbia. This county has 25 high schools and corresponding feeder schools all administered by one superintendent and one central office. It takes 45 minutes to an hour to travel from one end of the county to the other. The high schools differ in their demographics and needs – some are in very prosperous neighbors; some have student bodies comprised of 30-50% minority groups; some are very urban, others are rural – but the principal, as opposed to the superintendent, ensures that each school’s individual needs are responded to. Lastly, EVERY high school in Montgomery County is ranked in the top 5% of all the nation’s high schools.
Possible Downsides to District Consolidation
Consolidating school districts would be a huge hassle.
It would. In fact, it’s such a hassle that it would never be considered in better financial times. But even though we’re better able to support five school districts in better financial times, it’s STILL inefficient to do so. The window for such an undertaking is now.
We’ll inherit all the other school district’s problems.
Quite possibly. But as the largest, and as far as I can tell, best run of the five districts, GAPS would be joining the union from a position of power and influence.
We could lose our very capable superintendent and district leaders.
We could, and it worries me. But again, GAPS’ size and excellent administrative record would, I believe, give it an advantage. I also worry about the 37 excellent teachers, support staff and administrators that we currently stand to lose. The sad fact is jobs are bound to be lost under almost any scenario. Obviously, the more cuts that can be made at the district level, the fewer will have to be made at the school level.
Aren’t there costs associated with consolidating?
I’m sure there are. That’s something that would need to be fleshed out if this proposal is pursued in order to determine the actual savings that could come from consolidating.
Possible Benefits
Consolidation of school districts is a big savings.
Consolidating elementary schools in GAPS yields a projected savings of $400,000. Consolidating Linn County school districts yields a potential savings of $2million. That’s a significant difference!
Consolidation of school districts is a permanent savings.
Some proposals for bridging the budget gap, such as using our reserves, are only one-time savings. Once used, they’re no longer available. Consolidating school districts would not only provide savings now, but would allow a more efficient use of resources in the future.
Impact on students can be minimal.
The majority of the logistics of consolidating school districts would take place outside of classrooms and schools. Ideally, children would not lose their school days, their school, their teachers or their principal.
We can lead the way.
Consolidating our county’s school districts would be difficult on several levels. However, I see this as a rare opportunity. We have the chance to make a lasting, beneficial change for all of Linn County and North Albany’s children. Done right, we can be a pattern for other parts of our state to follow, an example of what can happen when municipal allegiances are set aside and we redefine what it means to be a community.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ward
Albany
jenjohnward@msn.com
