PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1447, 1904 PRINTER'S NO. 1965
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
AS AMENDED, JUNE 29, 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 JUNE 30, 2007. <--
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