During a presentation on a survey of ISDs across the state relating to consolidation of services (part of “Darkening the Dotted Lines, MAISA’s partnership with the MDE), State Superintendent Mike Flanagan warned that if the 500-plus school districts don't voluntarily begin consolidation services to save money, they could wake up some morning to state-imposed district consolidation. The conversation took place at the January 13, 2009, meeting of the State Board of Education.

Flanagan said that because of the challenges to the budget there is going to have to be efficiencies in non-educational operations in school districts so that classroom instruction is not compromised. If school districts don't make a move on greater efficiencies, some night in the wee minutes before midnight, the Legislature could impose school district consolidation.

"We don't need consolidation of school districts if we have consolidation of services," Flanagan said during a meeting of the State Board of Education. "We can't keep on saying we don't have enough money."

Board President Kathleen Straus put it more bluntly when she said, "All these new legislators could come up with something they think is a great idea but isn't workable."

The survey, which was conducted pursuant to PA 63 of 2007 and provided to lawmakers late last year, revealed that 90 percent of the ISDs in Michigan are consolidating some level of efficiencies in the area of professional development; 87 percent on improvement of instruction, administrative technology support and instructional technology support; and 81 percent in human services and transportation.

Low levels of non-instructional service categories were event management, legal services, production printing, and shipping and receiving.

Clark VOLZ, of Midland RISA, and co-chair of the Support Services Committee that conducted the survey said 50 percent of the state's superintendents asked have 148 initiatives in the works, many in the transportation area and many outside ISDs on transportation maintenance.

"Local control is a big issue," Straus said. "We have to look at things through a different lens now. The study provides a background for looking at change. We're going to have to save money somehow."

Flanagan suggested that maybe a solution to the local control issue is countywide consolidation of non-educational operations and local school district control of the educational operations.

"It's churning," Flanagan told board members. "Our obligation is to keep pushing."

Source: MIRS Capital Capsule, 1.13.09