MONROE - The school administrators from Belleville, Monticello and New Glarus say partnering in educating students is a better option for the districts than consolidating at this time.
"It's highly unlikely the three districts will be able to come together on any consolidation plan," said Bill Conzemius, administrator at New Glarus Schools, Thursday.
The three school administrators, Randy Freese of Belleville, Karen Ballin of Monticello and Conzemius, met Feb. 17 to determine what, if anything, they could do on the issue of consolidation.
Ballin summarized the meeting in a letter to the Monticello School Board, which she titled "The No Spin Zone Regarding School District Consolidation."
Monticello "would be wise to look for ways in which we can work together to share resources and improve educational opportunities for our students ... This can be done without consolidation," she said in her letter.
Freese said a study, conducted in September 2009 by Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, analyzing the fiscal implications of merging the three districts, had good news.
"Finances are not a significant difference," he said. But, he added that there are many more issues involved that need to be discussed.
"I believe there are two truly, very fundamental questions, besides money," he said Thursday. "Do these communities wish to have their high school children in a school of 800 or 1,000 kids? And what are you going to do with junior high or middle school (sixth to eighth grades) - keep them in the hometowns in three little junior highs, or do the want 600 (in one school) and where are they going to put it?"
Freese said a large school might offer students more educational opportunities.
"But people tell me that they moved here to get away from a large school," he said.
Both Ballin and Freese noted that $12 million in state aid to consolidation would not be enough to build a new high school.
Ballin also added that increased aid for increased student population would not produce a significant tax relief, and that savings in staff, administration and transportation would not be "dramatic enough" to justify consolidating.
Conzemius said consolidations are difficult to manage.
"Which is why there are so few of them," he said.
"It's highly unlikely the three districts will be able to come together on any consolidation plan," said Bill Conzemius, administrator at New Glarus Schools, Thursday.
The three school administrators, Randy Freese of Belleville, Karen Ballin of Monticello and Conzemius, met Feb. 17 to determine what, if anything, they could do on the issue of consolidation.
Ballin summarized the meeting in a letter to the Monticello School Board, which she titled "The No Spin Zone Regarding School District Consolidation."
Monticello "would be wise to look for ways in which we can work together to share resources and improve educational opportunities for our students ... This can be done without consolidation," she said in her letter.
Freese said a study, conducted in September 2009 by Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, analyzing the fiscal implications of merging the three districts, had good news.
"Finances are not a significant difference," he said. But, he added that there are many more issues involved that need to be discussed.
"I believe there are two truly, very fundamental questions, besides money," he said Thursday. "Do these communities wish to have their high school children in a school of 800 or 1,000 kids? And what are you going to do with junior high or middle school (sixth to eighth grades) - keep them in the hometowns in three little junior highs, or do the want 600 (in one school) and where are they going to put it?"
Freese said a large school might offer students more educational opportunities.
"But people tell me that they moved here to get away from a large school," he said.
Both Ballin and Freese noted that $12 million in state aid to consolidation would not be enough to build a new high school.
Ballin also added that increased aid for increased student population would not produce a significant tax relief, and that savings in staff, administration and transportation would not be "dramatic enough" to justify consolidating.
Conzemius said consolidations are difficult to manage.
"Which is why there are so few of them," he said.