Perceptions of Key Stakeholders Representing School Districts Included in the Standardand Poor's Study entitled "Cost Effectiveness of Consolidating Pennsylvania School Districts"

Perceptions of Key Stakeholders Representing School Districts Included in the Standardand Poor's Study on School Consolidations in PennsylvaniaJames A. Budzilek, M. Ed.University of Pittsburgh, 2008Abstract"There is a natural predilection in American education toward enormity, and it does notserve schools well."—William J. Fowler, Jr., 1992Because of recent studies, it appears that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania isindirectly advocating or pursuing the idea of merging or conoslidating smaller school districts,including those that are rural. And, it appears that, the Pennsylvania state legislature isencouraging schools falling into this category to pursue the process. Recent studies haveaddressed the need to share services or merge districts that are in close proximity to on another.Although the literature on this topic is abundant, not only in Pennsylvania, but across the nation,no definite conclusions about school size, academic achievement, and cost effectivenessregarding school size exists at this point in time.This research examines the perceptions of selected school leaders on school mergerpossibilities in Pennsylvania. Specifically, the study notes what these stakeholders perceive asimportant factors to maintain the status of their district and their beliefs on any mergerprospective. The study also details participant knowledge of the recent Standard and Poor'sStudy on School Consolidations published in 2007. Key stakeholders include: superintendents,school board presidents, and teacher association presidents. With the 2008 voluntary merger ofthe Monaca and Center Area School Districts, other school districts must be aware of the mergervprocess experienced by these districts. This situation may have established a proceduralprecendent for other districts to follow across the Commonwealth.Through surveys, that include closed- and open-ended questions, this researcher desiresto achieve a greater insight on the current climate of the districts represented in the study. Anumber of small school districts, particularly the rural ones, in many areas throughout theCommonwealth are struggling financially. This study includes ten districts from southwesternPennsylvania. The districts represent small rural, suburban, and urban schools and were includedin the 2007 Standard and Poor's study