Last week, in a meeting at North Lakeland School, Lakeland Union High School board members and administrators reported on a school consolidation study which the high school has funded. In their stated goal to level spending and achievement among the four elementary districts, they presented five consolidation models, and a sixth option of "do nothing."
First, note that none of the models propose closing North Lakeland School. The two most dramatic changes proposed would 1) send all 6-8th grade students to a middle school at Arbor Vitae Woodruff, and 2) consolidate only North Lakeland and AVW, with PK-2nd at NL and grades 3-8 at AVW. The least disruptive model was called "shared services" and would involve no major organizational changes.
Local residents attending the NL meeting, many former board members, objected strongly to any action which would change our local school. They said that we have the highest achievement scores of any school in the area and the highest expenditure per pupil. Any consolidation would not only raise our taxes, but would spread those taxes over a greater number of students. Also, NL students already travel, by far, the most miles by school bus, and any change could only increase those distances and those costs. (NL is already first in the state in transportation costs as percentage of the school's total budget.)
In order for any change to take place, a referendum would have to be proposed. Given the negative reactions from NL, the other three elementary districts would have to push enthusiastically for that referendum to occur. To be judged successful, the referendum would have to be approved by three of the four districts. (Thus, the worst-case senario would be approval by the other three districts and rejection by the NL voters, which would still obligate NL to the change. NO suggestion was made that this might become the case, but it was an interesting point for me.)
Although the majority of us do not have students who attend the local school, we certainly know that its health and success play a major part in the composition of our community and the value of our properties. I believe we need to keep informed about any prospective changes and to be supportive as we are able.
(Remember that this is the reaction and opinion of one observer---others may have responded to the meeting differently.)
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