Focus on what it takes for students to succeed

Recent cuts in state school aid funding have reinspired some legislators to recommend consolidation and eliminating smaller school districts. Florida has 67 school districts, one for each county; Hawaii has one school district for the state. I'm not aware those states or any others have gained any economic or education benefit from having fewer school districts than Iowa.

School consolidation merely realigns school district boundaries to automatically reapportion declining student enrollments across a larger number of property tax assessments. But consolidation does not address statewide declining student enrollments. And, any projected cost savings from consolidation is often either temporary or illusory.

School consolidation can become a divisive issue, wasting creative energy instead of seeking answers for tougher questions: How can we best prepare high school graduates to succeed in college, to compete for jobs in a global economy?

Educators and legislators must work together to create a vision for “wherever and whenever” learning for every student - asking “what-if” questions, finding ways to deliver 21st century learning opportunities. Iowa education leaders and legislators must fulfill the vision with funding incentives that encourage local school districts to partner with other districts, local businesses and industries to create hands-on learning opportunities.

If small Iowa communities expect to prosper and survive, local community leaders and school districts must share resources.

Phillip Owen

Monticello