School Consolidation in Perry County, Illinois

This is a study of factors relating to school consolidation in Perry County, Illinois. The factors explored in this study are student achievement, student information, per pupil expenditure, and community attitude. An assessment of the perceptions of school board members and superintendents regarding consolidation was conducted through a survey sent to each board member and superintendent in Perry County. A thorough review of recent literature on consolidation was conducted. Administrators involved in previous consolidation efforts were interviewed. Analysis of the research identifies five specific concerns pertaining to consolidation in Perry County. The concerns are as follows: (a) the maintenance of local control, (b) the financial condition of the school district, (c) the improvement of curriculum, (d) the variance of per pupil expenditure, and (e) the steady decline of enrollment. The findings and conclusions drawn from this study resulted in recommendations of consolidation procedures for three schools in Perry County. The districts involved in this consolidation are Community Consolidated School District #211, Community Consolidated School District #204, and Tamaroa Elementary #5