State Superintendent of Schools Mike Flanagan offers Overview of Countywide Consolidation Proposal (Update)

Schools chief sees plan saving millions

Countywide services called the way to go

By Lori Higgins Detroit Free Press Education Writer

   State Superintendent Mike Flanagan, in a letter to key lawmakers Monday, is urging legislation that would change state law to centralize many school services — such as transportation, curriculum development and food service — at the county level.

   The Free Press outlined Flanagan’s push for a serious discussion about such a change in an article Sunday. The push comes as a record number of school districts — 55 — are operating in a deficit, and as two districts — Buena Vista and Inkster — are in danger of being dissolved.

   Flanagan said he thinks switching to a full countywide system of schools in Michigan, which would drastically reduce the number of school districts in the state, is the way to go.

   But Flanagan said there would be so much opposition from “forces that would be supporting and defending the status quo system” that he thinks the state should begin with a switch to a hybrid system that would have most administrative functions transferred to the county intermediate school district.

   Michigan has 550 school districts and 56 intermediate school districts. Of the 550 districts, 91 educate fewer than 500 students each.

   It would be a controversial move in Michigan, given the lack of re- search that shows such a change would save money and the ripple effect it could have on jobs and local control. But it is a way of life in states such as Florida, Maryland and Virginia.

   Flanagan’s letter was sent to Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Brighton, and Sen. Howard Walker, R-Traverse City, who chair the legislative appropriations committees on K-12 education. It was before a joint meeting of the two subcommittees last month that Flanagan first broached the idea.

   It’s an idea that has been around for years, but never embraced fully by state leaders. Flanagan said he believes it could save millions of dollars and would help districts better weather enrollment declines and financial ups and downs.

   Rogers said he welcomes the conversation. He has invited Flanagan to testify July 23 before his subcommittee, “so we can hear the pros and cons.”

   The subcommittee that day will be hearing testimony on school consolidation, Rogers said. The meeting is at noon in the House Office Building in Lansing.

   In his letter Monday, Flanagan said legislation should be written to allow up to five years for a full transition of the hybrid plan.

   “An intermediate school district would be required to take on these functions and responsibilities, and if not, the ISD would need to merge with another ISD that could.”

   Flanagan said local school districts — with school boards and local administrators, would still exist — saying the school “is the center of the community.”

   “It is my belief that the only way to save local school buildings is to make the districts that serve them more efficient to save money, and more effective to increase student achievement.”

   The transition, he said, would save millions of dollars — money that would go back into the classroom.

   William Mayes, executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators, said in a statement Monday that his organization is open to the conversation. But he urged caution.

   “Creating sensible efficiencies through regional or countywide collaboration is a good idea, but it is an idea that will require many people thinking together,” Mayes said. “This effort could disrupt the lives of real people. It deserves careful research into whether or not it would result in significant savings.”

   Mayes said saving money is important but so, too, is creating a system that better serves students.

   Flanagan outlined eight pages worth of changes that would need to be made to Michigan’s Revised School Code and State School Aid Act — a list he said was preliminary and likely not inclusive of all changes that would need to be made.

   He said ISD leaders have said they want to be more active in the administration and academic functions of local school districts.

   “This is a prime opportunity for them to step up,” Flanagan said.

   Contact Lori Higgins: 313-222-6651 or lhiggins@freepress.com  

The Buena Vista School District school board meets May 9 amid a financial crisis. It is one of two districts in Michigan that could be dissolved.

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   HARRISON/AP

Students head for home from Pasteur Elementary School in Detroit. The push for consolidation comes as arecord number of school districts — 55 — are operating in a deficit. 2011 PHOTO BY ANDRE J. JACKSON/DFP