ERIC Number: ED349136
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992-Apr
Pages: 5
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Consolidation Success Story.
Benton, Davis
This paper describes school consolidation in six small towns in South Nevada County, Arkansas. None of the six schools had the resources to meet the requirements of advanced programs set by the Arkansas Educational Standards Act. School boards met with each community to gather support for consolidation, discussing increased taxes to pay for a new school building and improved educational programming. To maintain communities' identities, one school facility in each town was left as a community center. Each community elected one board member as a representative for consolidation negotiations. In 1986, a bond referendum was approved to build a school for the new school district. By the fall of 1988, a new school facility was completed, housing an elementary school of 425 students and a high school of 325 students. After 3 years, academic achievement has improved at both the elementary and secondary level. In addition, a wide variety of curricular and extracurricular opportunities are offered to students. There has also been an increase in the number of high school graduates attending college. Consolidation has also allowed savings in utility bills, school lunch and transportation programs, and staffing costs. Consolidation does involve sacrifices such as giving up local schools and losing community identities. Communities also voted to raise their taxes, as much as 55 percent, so their children could receive a better education. (LP)
Descriptors: Academic Achievement, Board of Education Role, Consolidated Schools, Educational Finance, Educational Improvement, Elementary Secondary Education, Rural Education, Rural Schools, School Closing, School Community Relationship, School District Reorganization, School Effectiveness, Small Schools
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - General
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arkansas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A