We recently received a letter from the District 51 school board explaining the financial problems they are having. The Journal Star has been running a series of stories about the severity of the school financial problems because of the inadequate state funding. I have not read or heard much, if any in the way of solutions except for the state to raise taxes so they can pay the bills. I believe it is time for Washington to get their act together and put a plan together to CONSOLIDATE the three districts (50, 51 and 52).
This is not a popular suggestion but there must be millions to be saved by:
1. Reduced administration costs. Are all the superintendents, assistant superintendents and principals really needed to operate the schools?
2. Reduced number of buses, drivers and associated expenses. There are several areas where buses from two districts travel the same streets because pupils who live on one side of the street are in one district and pupils on the other side are in another.
3. Lower costs of supplies due to centralized purchasing and quantity discounts
4. Reduced cost by using centralized athletic programs and facilities
5. And, I’m sure, many other ways that people who are smarter than I can come up with.
At 2,566 students for the three districts, a consolidated Washington district would be manageable as evidenced by other larger districts in the area.
I don’t know what organization is the right one to accomplish this. One thing I am sure of, the superintendents of the three districts are not the ones who will do it.
I had this note written when the editorial came out in the June 6 Journal Star on this subject. The headline was “Far too many school districts in Illinois; taxpayers deserve better.” I couldn’t agree more and Washington is one of the many areas they were describing.
Harry Newman
Washington
