School District Consolidation (Camp Hill: neighborhoods, school districts, camp)

[BevoInPA]

I am willing to agree that there are cost savings with consolidation. I also think that maintaining the existing high schools is important. I live in Camp Hill HS which has been proposed to consolidate with CV. I can see where Camp Hill has a declining population and some neighborhoods like Point Ridge are much closer to Camp Hill H.S. (though Camp Hill has no school buses).

These are two well regarded districts and I am a proponent of taking a first step to integrate before the "state" decides how we do it. I sincerely believe Camp Hill and CV are a natural fit, two high schools, one district. I think the cut off would be around Sun Motors Mercedes. I think we should accept this decision and make sure we speak up so it is on out terms. I love Camp Hill High High School, graduated from there, and hate to see it get absorbed, but I would appreciate more students, and recognize reality, and appreciate the compassion for education in CV district. SPEAK UP! It will be done according to someone else's decision unless you share your opinion.

Shoud we start an organizaion?

[toobusytoday]

I just can't wrap my head around it. Each district has it's own philosophy, funding, history and even curriculum. I'm not opposed to some consolidation but our district is doing pretty well and I'm not real keen on changing something that is working.

[North Beach Person]

MD has a county wide school system model. What happens is that money/staff/programs get yanked from the better performing schools and redirected to the poorer schools ensuring mediocrity all around. Fight this tooth and nail up there.

[JoeLeaphorn]

The simple reason to consolidate school districts is parity. As long as the state does not limit the amount that each district can spend, per student and guarantee that all school districts are equally funded on a per-pupil basis, the school districts encompassing less affluential residents will be at a disadvantage.

I worked as a pro bono physician for one such school district while I lived in a school district which had the highest per capita income in the county.

The differences in the opportunities for students and their overall rates of graduation, advanced study and final income were astounding (and disturbing).

Saving money is not the object but guaranteeing equal opportunity for all students should be.

[toobusytoday]

I understand the reasoning for it. Saving money IS part of it though, it's not just about making the playing field equal. This won't happen until my youngest is out of High School so I don't think it will personally affect our family but I think it's going be a long drawn out battle. It's not as if you just combine school boards and pool the money together.

Each single School district throughout the state has a different curriculum. They don't even teach social studies in the same order for the elementary grades, every Senior High School has a different criteria for a senior project and it goes on and on....

[mams1559]

In my area we have a school district that covers five boroughs/twps ... and their borders don't even touch each other. They have to go through no less than three other districts to pick up their students.

I think consolidation should definately be considered for cost savings. I know in my area there are districts that could consolidate, like the one mentioned above, but refuse. People get entrenched and pin their entire identity on their district. I'm not saying it's wrong to have school pride, but the entire community's education and financial needs have to be considered as well. I think with clear planning, it can be done. Should it be mandated by the state? Well, yes and no. If districts aren't pushed towards consolidation, it will most likely never happen. I do think local control of the process is vital, too.