 The state has 214 single-school districts -- nearly one-quarter of
all districts in Illinois, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.
In the Chicago area, they spend about $2,000 more per student than
multi-school districts do on average, state and federal data shows.
The difference downstate is about $600 per student.
Although they make up almost 25 percent of districts, one-school
districts serve only about 6 percent of the state's students, the
Tribune found.
"It just sounds absurd when you have over 200 school districts
with single schools," said state Rep. Robert Rita, D-Blue Island.
Rita has filed legislation to abolish all districts other than
Chicago Public Schools and to create one school district for each
county, as Florida has now.
Gov. Pat Quinn has also taken up the issue, proposing to cut the
current 868 districts down to about 300. He predicts that would
lower administrative costs by about $100 million.
School consolidation has long been a divisive issue.
Some merger opponents say local taxpayers cover most costs in
small districts, so they should be allowed to keep their districts,
and the emphasis on one-on-one teaching, if they want.
Lake County's Rondout School District 72 serves just 161
students. The cost to taxpayers: $23,449 per child, the highest of
all elementary districts in Illinois and more than twice the state
per-pupil average.
Rondout last year paid about $238,800 for a superintendent and a
principal. This year, to cut costs, Superintendent Jenny Wojcik also
serves as principal. She and an assistant make a combined $219,661.
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Parent Kim Sturonas praised the district for a homey atmosphere
that lavishes individual attention on students. She's skeptical of
Quinn's proposals.
"Bigger is not always better," she said. "I think school reform
is needed, but they need to do it thoughtfully, as part of a plan,
not some knee-jerk political move."
The state superintendent, Christopher Koch, said Thursday that
consolidation might not be on the table for much of suburban
Chicago.
He said the most important thing is making sure students have
access to vital services -- which he said is not typically a problem
in the suburbs.
"In some areas of the state it's hard for kids to have access to
an advanced placement course or a rigorous curriculum," Koch said.
"We know that that's going to make a huge difference for them in
being successful in college and careers."
___
Information from: Chicago Tribune,
http://www.chicagotribune.com/
[Associated Press]
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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