Consolidation could be start of solution

Just voted for the school levy. Maybe not next time. Might not be able to afford to drive the Chevy to the levy again.

What exploration has been made about a cost-saving consolidation of our many small local school districts, into one Flathead County School District? By national comparison, it would still be a very small school district (only five high schools). Local schools would not lose their identity. Trustees would come from each existing district and at large. Fewer administrators and district staff. Many states successfully operate one school district for each county. This isn’t inventing anything new. Hundreds of models are available for study. The tax base can be worked out.

What about introducing Long Distance Learning? Example: One instructor in one school, televising/broadcasting courses to other high school classrooms. What about the same style of instruction based at Flathead Valley Community College and sent to the high schools? Dual accreditation. Advanced students have a leg up on others as they compete for a desk at the university level. State and federal money shared. Not just money going out but at the same time, money coming in.

What about a top-notch, full-time grant writer?

Consolidation equals fewer administrators. Other districts successfully operate scores of schools with fewer admin than we currently and collectively employ. Some of those larger school districts don’t have as many total admin as we do and we have far lower student/teacher numbers. Duplicate positions are not needed. Imagine only one personnel department. That’s just one example. There are many more. Finance/payroll department. One supervisor of technology, sharing audio/visual resources, sharing copyright permission for one district, etc. Common maintenance.

Across the country, single districts, with multiple cities, maintain their individuality and yet share services and expenses. Saved money is redirected to expanding the course offerings. Our students are more competitive when applying to higher learning institutions. Saved monies could expand vocational training offerings. Not everyone is college bound but everyone is bound to want a good paying career. Not a job, a career.

Long distance learning would offer higher math, language, science instruction but require only one teacher in one school, with a video and/or conferencing equipment package. These small remote/satellite classes at the other high schools could be in a conference room off of another classroom (library/media center/learning center, with existing [already paid for] adult control). Interactive long distance learning. Grants are available. This is working in pockets all across America but maybe not so much here.

Share a teacher. Save money, enhance and advance the curricula. Some school districts already have advanced classes taught by the local community college. Dollar sharing helps both institutions. More for less. Some elementary schools in a same school district share traveling teachers of music and art, reading specialists, etc.

With one consolidated district, a grant writer could be employed that would bring in money that would actually pay for the grant writer and create financial relief for those trying to grow existing and new programs. Grants add to the only financial revenue source, that being a struggling property owner who may have lost his/her job and has a reduced income. Yes the PTA helps in a big way but we need more. Not just federal and state grants, but also private industry grants. That list is huge! Grant writing is competitive. There are direct money routes in the art of grant writing. An experienced writer will bring in money. Inexperienced writers will put in the hours and have little to show. Get a good one.

Some schools have shiny new computer classrooms now or planned for in the near future. Guess what happens to those computers in five years? They need replacing. Where’s that money coming from when that happens?

“We just bought new computers and you’re asking for money again!?” In five years, they are old technology. Are you putting iPads in student and teacher’s hands? Better have an income source. Ever hear of “Adopt a School Program?” Grant writers can find those willing to adopt. Are our local technology companies on board? Some of those employees are willing to teach a class once or twice a week at night. Saturdays? Summers? Are our students here to attend class... or get an education?

Nice to get extracurricular schooling from someone trying to show you the path to a $65K+ job, with a future that will exceed $100K. It’s time businesses played a role in our local educational formula. We need to show them what we want and they need to show us their own employee needs. Cooperative education is already in place.

But what about in this place? How’s the local intern and job shadowing program working? What, you haven’t heard about it? Did you know some intern programs pay their students?

Education needs growth in the classroom AND at the district level. It’s time to change the formula of funding and spending. Consolidation that saved only enough money to pay for a strong grant writer would be a money relief the schools, students and property owners all need. The curriculum advances would move a school system playing catch up, into one of leadership.

I know we already have some of my suggestions in place, in small ways. Maybe I don’t have all the answers, but maybe I can get someone in the system thinking about the answers.

As  the song went, “Drove my Chevy to the [levy] but the [levy] was dry… Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie…”

We need some new approaches, before the well runs dry.

Bill Milner is a Whitefish area resident.