School Reform - This article appeared on the Save Local Schools web
__________________________________________
WHY 20TH CENTURY SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION DOESN’T WORK IN THE 21ST
CENTURY
During the 1980s, when many of our current school board administrators were university
students, school consolidation was touted as the ultimate strategy for maximizing cost-savings,
enriching curriculum and creating optimum learning outcomes for students. In the U.S. and
across Canada, school board administrators advocated the building of large high schools
capable of accommodating between 1000 and 2000 students. Hundreds of these “big-box”
factory-sized schools were built. During the 1980’s, demographic trends supported these big
schools; there were enough students around to fill these schools without excessive bus
transport. Not so today.
The 20th Century Solution: Ontario’s Ministry of Education is still mired in the last century when
it comes to the promotion of big box composite schools as the optimum facility for delivering
the Ontario Secondary School Curriculum. Of course the Ministry does not impose such a
policy on local school boards; these boards, like our own Kawartha Pine Ridge District School
Board (KPRDSB), are independent corporations mandated to operate their schools in
accordance with the Education Act. However, the Ministry maintains funding formulae that, in
effect, controls the actions of school boards. Suppose a school board like our KPRDSB has 4
city high schools, total capacity of about 4000 students. Suppose the current student
population of these 4 schools adds up to about 3000 students. Suppose the students are
distributed this way:....
__________________________________________
WHY 20TH CENTURY SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION DOESN’T WORK IN THE 21ST
CENTURY
During the 1980s, when many of our current school board administrators were university
students, school consolidation was touted as the ultimate strategy for maximizing cost-savings,
enriching curriculum and creating optimum learning outcomes for students. In the U.S. and
across Canada, school board administrators advocated the building of large high schools
capable of accommodating between 1000 and 2000 students. Hundreds of these “big-box”
factory-sized schools were built. During the 1980’s, demographic trends supported these big
schools; there were enough students around to fill these schools without excessive bus
transport. Not so today.
The 20th Century Solution: Ontario’s Ministry of Education is still mired in the last century when
it comes to the promotion of big box composite schools as the optimum facility for delivering
the Ontario Secondary School Curriculum. Of course the Ministry does not impose such a
policy on local school boards; these boards, like our own Kawartha Pine Ridge District School
Board (KPRDSB), are independent corporations mandated to operate their schools in
accordance with the Education Act. However, the Ministry maintains funding formulae that, in
effect, controls the actions of school boards. Suppose a school board like our KPRDSB has 4
city high schools, total capacity of about 4000 students. Suppose the current student
population of these 4 schools adds up to about 3000 students. Suppose the students are
distributed this way:....
As this article is rather long, please see http://savelocalschools.com/?page_id=390
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