Is consolidation the answer for districts?

HOUGHTON -- It can be a community's worst nightmare, losing their one and only school.  And yet, the state has encouraged districts to look at consolidation to save money.

It has been done before in the U.P., whether Wakefield-Marenisco in the west, Norway-Vulcan in the south, or Republic-Michigamme in the north.

Back in 1994, the Houghton-Portage and Hancock school boards wanted to consolidate their school districts, sharing a high school and middle school.  But the proposal was met with heavy opposition, and voters made their decision clear with a resounding no.

"I think it's safe to say that we probably could have gotten by with less had we built one high school and one middle school,” said Hancock Superintendent John Vaara.  “There's no question."

But consolidation not only can increase the time students spend on the bus; it can also mean the loss of a community's identity.

"Obviously tradition runs deep and schools play a vital role in the community and that has been the hesitation, I think, for a lot of districts to pursue consolidation," said Derek Anderson, NMU Assistant Education Professor.

Communities love to root for their teams, whether they bleed maize and blue in Negaunee or maroon and gold in Menominee.

Still, several schools have already made progress towards consolidation.

"Now you'll see hockey teams, for example, and they'll represent students from a variety of districts,” said June Schaefer, NMU Assistant Education Professor.  “I mean that's a real step for people."

It's that easing into consolidation that Negaunee Superintendent Jim Derocher thinks could happen, someday, with Ishpeming, NICE and Negaunee schools.

"Maybe it's the superintendent, one superintendent for the three school districts with one business office,” said Derocher, “but keep Ishpeming High School open and Westwood High School open and Negaunee High School open, and they still have those teams.  And then over a couple years, we'll say maybe we should go back and eliminate one of the high schools."

Some districts aren't necessarily consolidating buildings, but are consolidating superintendents instead.  Chassell Township and Adams Township school boards have agreed to share a superintendent starting in the 2010-11 school year.  It's a savings, school board members believe, could save each board between $30,000 and $50,000 a year.

"We'll be having several joint meetings and we'll be looking at what the duties will be for that new person,” said Jim Tervo, Vice President of the Chassell Township Board of Education.  “Also we'll be looking at how we will be realigning the duties of the principals."

Obviously consolidation isn't a choice for many districts.  Wednesday night, we’ll look at other options for schools, including the consolidation of services.