Disadvantages consolidating schools
26-Oct-2020 18:41
Consolidation affects school finances in several ways—state aid, day-to-day operating funds, tax base, and millage Research finds mixed results about the overall financial effect of mergers.Some studies find that per student, consolidated schools have fewer teachers and administrative personnel.Michigan occupies the middle ground: It ranks 22nd nationally.
The state offered them believing that consolidation has “the potential to address administrative, curricular, and organizational efficiencies, providing for a more educationally and fiscally effective system and improved educational opportunities for students, teachers and communities.” Among the incentives were grants enabling districts to study the feasibility of consolidating, and several took the state up on it (Public Sector Consultants conducted three such studies for districts exploring the possibility).They further believe that it improves education, because with more students there can be a broader curriculum with more specialized courses.