As school budgets continue to tighten statewide, particularly in rural areas, consolidation becomes an increasingly plausible but painful option for districts.
Credit the Pecatonica and Argyle school districts for facing that reality and beginning on a path that could ultimately lead to their merger.
It's a long, long, long path, of course. The Pecatonica and Argyle districts have merely decided to apply for a state grant that would fund a consolidation feasibility study. Their discussions may not get anywhere near the stage where voters would be asked to decide on consolidation.
But, as Pecatonica District Administrator Gary Neis told the Times last week, "we want to try to gather as much factual information as possible."
The 2007-09 biennial budget included money for one-time grants to school districts wishing to conduct consolidation feasibility studies. Districts apply for the grants to the Department of Public Instruction, which can award up to $10,000 to a group of schools considering merging.
The consortium of the Benton, Cuba City, Southwestern and Shullsburg districts were among six that met the first deadline, in June, and were approved for funding. The next deadline, which Pecatonica and Argyle are aiming for, is Oct. 31.
The grant money would allow the districts to consider financial and educational implications of consolidating into one district. The Pecatonica district includes students from Blanchardville and Hollandale, and is about eight miles from Argyle. The schools share sports co-ops in football, wrestling, track and cross country. Those co-ops might make any path to consolidation a little smoother.
The state grant is helpful in removing an initial deterrent school districts might have to pursuing consolidation - funding to get the process started. Hopefully, the Pecatonica and Argyle school districts apply for and receive the money, and are able to make factual and logical decisions about whether consolidation is the best way to operate more efficiently for both communities' schools.
Credit the Pecatonica and Argyle school districts for facing that reality and beginning on a path that could ultimately lead to their merger.
It's a long, long, long path, of course. The Pecatonica and Argyle districts have merely decided to apply for a state grant that would fund a consolidation feasibility study. Their discussions may not get anywhere near the stage where voters would be asked to decide on consolidation.
But, as Pecatonica District Administrator Gary Neis told the Times last week, "we want to try to gather as much factual information as possible."
The 2007-09 biennial budget included money for one-time grants to school districts wishing to conduct consolidation feasibility studies. Districts apply for the grants to the Department of Public Instruction, which can award up to $10,000 to a group of schools considering merging.
The consortium of the Benton, Cuba City, Southwestern and Shullsburg districts were among six that met the first deadline, in June, and were approved for funding. The next deadline, which Pecatonica and Argyle are aiming for, is Oct. 31.
The grant money would allow the districts to consider financial and educational implications of consolidating into one district. The Pecatonica district includes students from Blanchardville and Hollandale, and is about eight miles from Argyle. The schools share sports co-ops in football, wrestling, track and cross country. Those co-ops might make any path to consolidation a little smoother.
The state grant is helpful in removing an initial deterrent school districts might have to pursuing consolidation - funding to get the process started. Hopefully, the Pecatonica and Argyle school districts apply for and receive the money, and are able to make factual and logical decisions about whether consolidation is the best way to operate more efficiently for both communities' schools.
