Rural Illinois Districts Work To Prevent Consolidation

The Springfield (IL) State Journal Register (12/22) reports that Gary DePatis, superintendent of Greenview School in Greenview, Illinois, "thinks he has a way to offer students in his tiny rural school district a top-flight curriculum and exceptional teaching staff in spite of dwindling state aid," noting that he and other superintendents of rural districts "determined that, apart from money, the top three concerns among officials of small districts are developing a first-rate curriculum, attracting and retaining quality teachers and addressing declining enrollment. Officials in many districts want to avoid school consolidations if they can, because closing schools can turn small communities into ghost towns." The paper describes the plans that DePatis and his colleagues are crafting to share such resources, but notes that this can bring new expenses.