The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By DAVID GRIMES for The Quill
LaHARPE- It's time to move forward with a four-school district reorganization proposal, and the sooner the better, according to the LaHarpe School Board.
LaHarpe has been exploring merger possibilities with Dallas City, Nauvoo-Colusa and Carthage since last summer and held joint board meetings with those districts in January and again last month.
But not all districts were ready to move ahead at the meeting in March and Nauvoo-Colusa and LaHarpe both requested more time to take the next step toward reorganization, but did agree that all the districts prefer convergence over consolidation.
Convergence is a reorganization option that merges two or more high schools, but leaves the administration of elementary schools to local governance.
Nauvoo-Colusa estimated they would be ready to talk again late in April; LaHarpe offered to respond in May.
Since the March meeting, Nauvoo-Colusa has re-surveyed its district voters and will discuss those findings at the April 19 board meeting.
LaHarpe used the time to meet jointly with the Southern School Board.
But dialogue among the four Hancock County schools has come to a standstill.
"There's been very little communication in the time since the meeting with Southern," said LaHarpe Superintendent Jo Campbell at that board's meeting this week.
"I think we need to meet (with the other three Hancock County schools) in May," said LaHarpe Board President Barb Cox.
Board members agreed with Cox that LaHarpe should initiate scheduling a next meeting with the four-district group, possibly using the LaHarpe High School as the location.
"I think we need to get the ball rolling," said board member Rick Johnson. "We've been talking now for six months."
A date of May 19 or 26 was re-commended by Cox.
Campbell was directed to contact the other three districts for input on the scheduling.