School Consolidation

[LDS Jock]

I don't live in Arkansas anymore but try to keep up with things. What happened with the school consolidations that were to go into effect this year? Are the smaller schools being forced to consolidate? Did they stick with the cut off of schools smaller than 1500? If anyone knows, please fill me in.

[leetrisck]

1. Yes, going on right now

Don't live there anymore either but track it. Schools under 500 not 1500 - changed it at some point.

[dbt]

2. Number is down to 350 now,

Thanks to our Fearless Legislators. Consolidation is the Third Rail of Arkie politics these days. Supreme Court seems to be the only real fix. (Wow! "Supreme Court" and "fix" in the same sentence!)

:evilgrin:
dbt

[democratreformed]

3. Yes, the schools who couldn't find a voluntary consolidation partner

are being forced to work with schools who did not want them as are the larger schools who did not want to accept them in the first place.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Schools consolidating lose their identity

and have to have a new name, etc. This is not going down well at all here in NW Arkansas,where there are so many small, isolated districts. I think it bodes well for the Dems, because a lot of people are worked up over this and the sales tax increase-and I think many are blaming Huckabee, our Republican governor.

[democratreformed]

"Desegregation questions stall consolidation"

From the Searcy Daily Citizen April 27, 2004

"Arkansas' Board of Education deferred action on three proposed mergers of small school districts Monday bacause of concerns that the consolidations could disrupt efforts to desegregate schools.

Work also was halted on two other mergers because a pair of districts involved were recently found by the state to be in fiscal distress.

As Arkansas addresses a state Supreme Court order that it does not spend enough money on education or spread it in a fair manner, legislators this year ordered the administrative consolidation of districts with fewer that 350 students. The order affects 57 districts."

[democratreformed]

5. "Desegregation questions stall consolidation"

From the Searcy Daily Citizen April 27, 2004

"Arkansas' Board of Education deferred action on three proposed mergers of small school districts Monday bacause of concerns that the consolidations could disrupt efforts to desegregate schools.

Work also was halted on two other mergers because a pair of districts involved were recently found by the state to be in fiscal distress.

As Arkansas addresses a state Supreme Court order that it does not spend enough money on education or spread it in a fair manner, legislators this year ordered the administrative consolidation of districts with fewer that 350 students. The order affects 57 districts."

[LiberalHawg]

6. >>>

If, and this is a big if, if schools that are consolidated join with schools of higher quality, 'identity' matters not a bit. I can't remember any of my pre college mascots, or colors. In my time at UARK I can now say notions of this being a state of morans is entirely unfounded. If anything I would have to guess certain areas where religion is a factor is what keeps kids from learning certain 'dangerous' elements. Of course I am the university level, thats to speak nothing of those who can't or don't pursue higher education.

On edit, i would be curious to hear opinions from people deep in the river valley, as I have only met a handful of people from there, most very intelligent people, but all from El Dorado or Ft. Smith the former of the two in particular seems to be a Bush stronghold for whatever reasons.