DOCUMENT' RESUME RC 019 795 ED 373 954 "Looking the Dragon in the Eye: School Consolidation TITLE Pros & Cons." Conference Summary and Resource Guide: Annual- Rural Education Conference (16th, Dillon, Montana, June 22-24, 1994). Western Montana Coll., Dillon. Montana Rural INSTITUTION Education Center.- PUB DATE 94 NOTE 32p. Conference Proceeding_ Collected Works PUB TYPE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Administrator Attitudes; Conferences; *Consolidated DESCRIPTORS Schools; *Educational Change; Educational Cooperation; Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education; *Politics of Education; Rural Schools; School Community Relationship; *School District Reorganization; School Districts; State School District Relationship *Montana IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT This document summarizes presentations and discussions on school consolidation that took place at the 1994 Rural Education Conference held at Western Montana College. The summaries politics-of school cover the following: (1) a panel discussion on the consolidation (influences on public opinion, need for balanci between state and local control, and school finance issues); (2) "An Overview 'f the Pros and Cons of School Consolidation," by Paul Theobald; (3) "Forces Supporting Consolidation and Some Alternatives," by Paul Theobald; (4) a panel discussion by school superintendents on a workshop on ideas and changing roles at the county level; (5) (6) a options for change that might work in participants' schools; i presentation on the pros and cons of unification of Montana's elementary and secondary school districts;. (7) other views on consolidation (college-school collaboration, misconceptions associated with consolidation, cost savings, need for local decision making, and school-community relationships); and (8) some concluding thoughts (on accountability and public responsiveness) by former Montana governor, Ted Schwinden. Contains the conference agenda, lists of presenters and participants, and related resources available from the Rural Education Center. (SV) ***************************1.-******************************************* Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. *********************************************************************** OEPARTAIENTDC EDUCATION TO REPRODUCE THIS Office of Education& Research and Improvement :3 "PERMISSION GRANTED BY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION .:. MATERIAL HAS BEEN CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced is Mewed from the perSOn or Organization Originating it O Minor changes have been made to improve reproductiOn quality Points of WOW or opinions stated in t his docu- mint do not necessarily represent offiCial RESOURCES TO THE EDUCATIONAL OEM position or policy INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." .3 ). ,t 0215 ETAL4 rnpv AVAig ADI TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction and Acknowledgements 1 Conference Agenda 2 Politics of School Consolidation 5 Overview of the Pros & Cons of School Consolidation 8 Table Topics 9 Forces Supporting Consolidation & Some Alternatives 10 Changing Roles at the County Level 12 Ideas/Options For Change 16 K-12 Unification--Pros & Cons 17 Other Views On Consolidation I 20 Some Concluding Thoughts 23 Appendices 25 1994 Presenters 1994 Participants Resource List INTRODUCTION & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The topic for the 16th Annual Rural Education Conference, LOOKING THE DRAGON IN THE EYE--SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION, PROS AND CONS, was chosen based on a survey sent to rural educators last fall. Many people volunteered to participate as panelists. In fact, the presentations and the presenters were outstanding. Pros and cons were definitely presented.. As the time for the conference drew near, more and more people called and said that they could not attend or that they were attending, but that they really wanted a summary of what was presented at thi conference. This was a new idea for the Rural Education Conferences. However, because of the timeliness of the topic, it was determined that a summary would be done. Lisa Boka, a Senior in English at Western, agreed to attend the conference, audiotape the sessions, take notes and write the summaries. She did a wonderful job, though it was more time consuming than had originally been envisioned. The presenters were all sent draft summaries of their sections and asked to respond with changes within a certain time period. Many did provide good clarifications. The task of putting the document together fell into the capable hands of Phyllis Anderson, the Rural Education Center's Administrative Assistant. As usual, she did a first rate job. Finally, sincere appreciation should go to Susan Jones and her staff in Continuing Education and Summer School who made sure that all the conference logistics were met and who paid for the creation of this document. It is hoped that the reader of this summary can find, as did the participants in the conference, that it is difficult to look the dragon in the eye. The school consolidation r.:(agon has many eyes because the schools in Montana are so varied. As several presenters concluded, there is no one solution to school consolidation because there is so much variety in Montana's schools and each situation should be looked at for its own unique qualities. However, along with the recognition that any plan must take into account the diversity found in public education in Montana, it was generally agreed (to use Governor Schwinden's terms) that schools must be responsive to their public, provide accountability and regain the public trust. Dr. Claudette Morton, Director Rural Education Center CONFERENCE AGENDA WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22 Opening Session THE POLITICS OF SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION Panelists: Eric Newhouse, Editorial Editor of The Great Falls Tribune Loran Frazier, Executive Director of the School Administrators of Montana Paula Butterfield, Superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools and a member of the Governor's Task Force to Renew Montana Government cric Feaver, President of the Montana Education Association and a member of the Governor's Task Force to Renew Montana Government Bob Anderson, Executive Director of the Montana School Boards Association Moderator - Dr. Alan Zetler, Professor Emeritus and Research Consultant at Western BANQUET Welcome - Or. Claudette Morton, Director, Rural Education Center Introduction of Speaker - Dr. Sheila Stearns, Chancellor of Western Montana College of -The University of Montana Address, "An Overview of the Pros and Cons of School Consolidation" - Dr. Paul Theobald, Assistant Professor at South Dakota State University at Brookings THURSDAY. JUNE 23 Continental Breakfast Table Topics K-8 Issues -- John Babcock, Superintendent, Cayuse Prairie Elementary (Kalispell), Facilitator Small K-12 District issues -- Carl Knudsen, Superintendent, Saco School District, Facilitator County Superintendents' IssuesDottie Donovan, Beaverhead County Superintendent of Schools, Facilitator Guest Speaker Addreis "A More In-Depth Examination of Some of the Forces Supporting Carsolidation and Some Alternatives", Dr. Paul Theobaid Panel Presentation -- CHANGING ROLES AT THE COUNTY LEVEL Panelists: Rachel Vielleux, Missoula County Superintendent, of Schools Jerry Scott, Carbon County Superintendent of Schools Mary Ann Brown, Gallatin County Superintendent of Schools Dorothy Laird, Flathead County Superintendent of Schools and a member of the Education Committee of the Governor's Task Force to Renew Montana Government Moderator - Dr. Lee Spuhler, Professor Emeritus and Co-Director of Field, Clinical & Student Teaching Experiences at Western Group Interaction Session- IDEAS/OPTIONS FOR CHANGES Opportunities For Participants To Determine Changes That Might Work In Their Schools Facilitator - Dr. Joyce Ley, Northwest Regional Educatiorial Laboratory, Portland, Oregon and former Montana Educator K-12 UNIFICATIONPRO:3 AND CONS Gregg Groepper, Assistant Superintendent for the Department of Operations, Office of Public Instruction, Helena Craig Brewington, Superintendent of Hellgate Public Schools, Missoula STEAK FRY AT BIRCH CREEK FRIDAY. JUNE 24 Continental Breakfast Opportunity to Network with colleagues from around the State Panel - OTHER VIEWS ON CONSOLIDATION Panelists: George Bailey, Superintendent of Target Range Schools, Missoula Storrs Bishop, Rancher, Insurance and Real Estate from Ennis and a member of the Education Committee of the Governor's Task Force to renew Montana Government The Honorable Chuck Swysgood, State Senator, Senate District 37 The Honorable Kelly Elser, Mayor of Sheridan Moderator - Dr. Claudette Morton, Director .of the Rural Education Center and Associate Professor of Education Final Address - SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS The Honorable Ted Schwinden, Former Governor of Montana and author of School Reorganization in Montana: A Time for Decision?, a 1993 study commissioned by the Montana School Boards Association 4 7 THE POLITICS OF SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION Eric Newhouse Editorial Editor of The Great Falls Tribune Bob Anderson Executive Director of the Montana School Boards Association Loran Frazier Executive Director of the School Administrators of Montana Paula Butterfield Superintendent of Bozeman Public Schools and a member of the Governor's Task Force to Renew Montana Government Eric Feaver President of the Montana Education Association and a member of the Governor's Task Force to Renew Montana Government Eric Newhouse, because he is in touch with the public, cited three reasons why the public is negative towards new school levies: SAT scores dropping; inadequate college preparation of students; and a general feeling of having very little control over their taxes except in voting on school levies. He mentioned how papers he has worked on have had to downgrade employee tests on journalism in order to hire. The public also feels a need to cut the fat in government which underlies their concern over administration and teacher salaries and benefits. He cited the growth in government employees, about 23% of all Montanans, and the feeling of tax payers receiving little in return for their dollars as issues contributing to a cry for consolidation. Newhouse concluded comparing private industry and its downsizing, to school consolidation which he said represents to the public more efficient use of resources including people. Bob Anderson, is not against consolidation or any other form of educational reform, but he is against state mandated reform without research or benefit shown to support educational improvement. He stated students do better when their parents are involved with them and their education, not just reading to them, but when they feel and are empowered to help create a better school system. Those closest to the problems should be the ones who decide what's best for their children. He also said that the media should exercise more responsibility making sure that what they report is backed up with good data. He stated that the media is feeding a growing public perception that consolidation is a more cost effective answer to maintaining the quality of education in Montana when in fact that may not be the case. Loran Frazier, looked at where schools started, where they have been, and where they are going. He believes there is a need for some consolidation with school administrators and a need for balance in state and local control. Society as a whole wants the next generation to have it better than they did in terms of economics. He stated that research has shown children from small schools and large schools do equally well, and small school children do better in some areas in later life. Hi: said that he believed this is due mainly to higher parent and student. involvement. He also mentioned accreditation standards and building structures as playing an important role in the consolidation issue, and suggested that these_ issues need to be looked at closely. Paula Butterfield, addressed the assumption that consolidation will save money or that a district will lose smaller schools when other factors like location and busing are involved. She based these assumptions on a report which outlined the costs and savings involved with consolidation of several smaller schools with the Bozeman School District. She found it would cost- more to consolidate her district with the small, elementary surrounding schools. She noted that it was important to remember the diversity within our state, and that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for Montana. Eric Feaver, stated only one-fourth of the school districts exist today compared to fifty years ago, acknowledging a historical process of school consolidation in Montana. He felt the purpose behind the consolidation movement was to try to make a political determination as to how best to organize public schooling in the state of Montana so that it makes sense to everyone involved, including the general public. He mentioned the 500 different taxing jurisdictions in schools alone, creating 500 tax bills in which taxpayers pay inequitable amounts. This had the most impact in MEA's decision to support K-12 consolidation as an attempt to equalize state funding for education and, in the process, to meld those 500 districts into a more manageable 175. One minute summary, concluding remarks: Bob Anderson again asked the press to be factual and to study past reports on consolidation. He believed that teachers unions would be big winner if there is K-12 unification. He was concerned about the Governor's Task Force's suggestion to eliminate tuition fearing that it might not create more choice, as they had hoped. The task force should realize it is a taxpayer's issue, and one to deal with cautiously. 6 Paula Butterfield said that as .a member of the Governor's Task Force she was attempting to keep an open mint The committee has heard a lot of good discussion and she invited the audience to future task force meetings.and said that there would still be opportunity for input. Eric Feaver acknowledged that it would be advantageous to the teachers unions to have K-12 consolidation, but e% an more of an advantage to the teachers in small rural schools who are still making very low walaries after thirty years. He believes that the bottom line is money- -how we raise it and how we spend it. Public schools look like they raise a lot of money, they spend a lot of 'money, and they aren't spending it wisely. Schools have to turn that around in some way. Consolidation is one way to address that issue. Loran Frazier said that to look at the politics of consolidation is to realize that we are part of representative government. If the same representatives with the same attitudes come back that we have had in the past, he doesn't believe there will be big changes. However, he does think the issues of tax credit, tuition vouchers, and the state governance may be brought up at the next legislature. He further went on to state that the idea that business can do better at running schools is not being born out in Baltimore. The five privatized schools are spending more money on the students and the test scores are poorer. He does believe that the legislature is compelled to reorganize something, and education could be part of that. Eric Newhouse felt that the subject had been covered. 7