The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Union-Southern Consolidation
In an effort to help educate the community on a proposed consolidation between the Union and Southern School Districts, the Committee of Ten will periodically publish a questions and answers column on consolidation issues. Please feel free to forward any questions you may have to a Committee of Ten Member or to the Unit Office at your school district. The Committee of Ten will try to answer all questions as efficiently as possible.
Q: When would a Union-Southern Consolidation take place?
A: Based on results of the Union-Southern Feasibility study, there appears to be an urgent need for these districts to consider school consolidation. In order to educate the community, gain community feedback, and to provide enough time for appropriate legal work, a proposed consolidation is being considered for the November 2004 ballot.
Q: If school consolidation is inevitable, please explain why we shouldn't vote in March 2004 instead of November of 2004?
A: Once a school consolidation is voted for, critical decisions will need to be made by school administrators, school faculty, and school board members of the new district.
Consultants who conducted the Union-Southern Feasibility study suggest five months would not be efficient enough time for critical planning and organization. If a vote is taken in November of 2004 and the vote passed, school administrators and faculty would have eight months for critical planning to start the new school year in the new consolidated district in July of 2005.
Q: How would a new school board be elected for a new consolidated district?
A: Most school consolidation proposals will not only include the initial question for consolidation on the ballot, but also include a vote for school board members on the same ballot. There are two ways a school board could be elected:
1) At large or
2) One member from seven equally populated areas within the school district. Prior to such a ballot, a decision will be made on which method will be chosen for this vote.
Please express your interest to a Committee of Ten Member.
Q: Is this consolidation just for high school?
A: No, this would be a school consolidation for the entire district. Location of K-4th grades would stay in the same locations as they currently are for each district. The Committee of Ten is currently evaluating several options for 5th - 8th and 9th - 12th grades which all include existing facilities. The Committee of Ten will provide the community with the details of an initial recommendation that would be given to a newly elected school board in the near future.
Q: Is keeping grade schools local an important part of consolidating? If not kept locally, will it effect future population and economy?
A: School districts often play a critical role in the local economy. With that in mind, some school consolidations around the state of Illinois have had an impact on the local economy, while others have been minimal. It is important to remember that part of your tax dollars go to the school district you live in. Keep in mind that a school consolidation of two school districts in Henderson County would keep your tax dollars in Henderson County. A school consolidation with a district outside of your county, even if part of the school system was located in Henderson county, would result in some of your tax dollars leaving the county.
Q: Is this two district merger just a stop gap and will there be a need for additional mergers in the near future?
A: School funding from the state of Illinois continues to decline, in large part due to declining school enrollments. Consolidation incentives from the state of Illinois currently exist. In fact, if the Southern and Union districts consolidated this year, the new school district would receive $1,600,000 in incentives from the state of Illinois.
Such funding would dramatically help the consolidated district in the short term.
Despite this help from the state, future consolidations may be needed. Consultants who conducted the Union-Southern Feasibility study stated that an additional consolidation may be need ed within five years pending state funding of schools and enrollment of the consolidated district.
Q: What are the future plans to educate the communities in order to get voters to understand the impacts and necessity of consolidation?
A: The Committee of Ten will continue to have information pieces in the local newspapers. In addition, the Committee of Ten realizes there needs to be significant discussion with the citizens of all communities involved to gain additional ideas and feedback. The Committee of Ten will be holding community roundtable discussions in each of the communities of both districts. If you are interested in helping organize such meetings, please contact an individual on the Committee of Ten.
Q: At this time, are both school boards in favor of a Union-Southern consolidation?
A: The Union School Board has unanimously voted to support a Union-Southern consolidation. Although the Southern School Board did decide to develop a committee of ten with Union, a vote for full board support of a proposed consolidation has not occurred.
Q: Can a vote for a Union-Southern consolidation be brought to ballot without both school boards supporting such a consolidation?
A: Yes. Once a Committee of Ten is developed, a Committee of Ten can proceed with pursuing a ballot for a Union-Southern consolidation. The Committee of Ten will work to gain a pulse of where the citizens of each community stand on this issue. If consolidation appears favorable, a vote will be brought forward on the November 2004 ballot.
Q: With two-thirds greater enrollment and five times greater assets, does Union have as much to gain as Southern from a school consolidation?
A: Yes. Despite the fact Union has a new facility and a higher enrollment, student enrollment and state funding continue to decline. In order to provide the best education possible for our students, a school consolidation would maximize financial efficiencies while maintaining, or potentially improving, opportunities in the school curriculum and extra-curricular activities.
Q: How would teachers be selected for a newly consolidated district?
A: Selection of teachers for the newly consolidated district would be based on seniority of the current faculty of each of the districts.