PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1447 PRINTER'S NO. 1904
No. 208 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY WOZNIAK, FONTANA, LAVALLE, COSTA, WENGER, O'PAKE, BOSCOLA, KITCHEN, PILEGGI, ERICKSON, EARLL, D. WHITE, MELLOW, RAFFERTY, STACK, WONDERLING, C. WILLIAMS, WAUGH AND RHOADES, JANUARY 3, 2006
SENATOR RHOADES, EDUCATION, AS AMENDED, JUNE 21, 2006
A RESOLUTION 1 Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study 2 the cost-effectiveness of consolidating school districts in 3 this Commonwealth. 4 WHEREAS, This Commonwealth has 501 school districts that 5 operate independently with respect to governance, budgetary 6 matters, procurement of goods and services, staffing and many 7 other issues; and 8 WHEREAS, Having so many school districts may be significantly 9 inefficient from a financial and funding perspective; and 10 WHEREAS, A reduction in the number of school districts may 11 improve the cost-effectiveness of operating the vast public 12 school system in this Commonwealth; and 13 WHEREAS, A comprehensive study on the advantages and 14 disadvantages of a public school consolidation needs to be 15 conducted; therefore be it 16 RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and 17 Finance Committee to study reducing the number of school
1 districts in this Commonwealth in order to: 2 (1) Determine whether, by consolidating school 3 districts, smaller and more rural districts could save money 4 in regards to purchasing power of supplies and services. 5 (2) Analyze whether services could be consolidated, much 6 like many municipal services on other levels, by 7 consolidating school districts. 8 (3) Study the effects of consolidation on transportation 9 issues, logistical issues and other situations that may not 10 be considered on the surface. 11 (4) Investigate whether, by pooling State moneys 12 together to provide better services for more rural school 13 districts, the Commonwealth could run a more efficient and 14 ultimately a better system of education for its young people. 15 (5) Evaluate whether, by consolidation OF SCHOOL <-- 16 DISTRICTS AT THE COUNTY, INTERMEDIATE UNIT OR OTHER LEVEL, 17 larger school districts could provide more services such as 18 extensive special-needs programs, after-school programs and 19 other means that poorer districts traditionally cannot 20 provide or afford; 21 and be it further 22 RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee 23 report its findings and recommendations to the Senate no later 24 than December 31, 2006. K21L82DMS/20060S0208R1904 - 2 -