A report delivered to the Oklahoma Legislature in 2003 suggested consolidation of school districts as a way to save administrative costs and get more tax dollars into classrooms. Oklahoma, with nearly 600 school districts, stands to save millions through efficiencies realized when districts merge.
But which schools' mascots, administrators and traditions will remain? Gov. Brad Henry, speaking to newspaper editors and publishers in Midwest City this past weekend, said school districts are often the major employers in many rural areas. The "C word" comes up nearly every legislative session and lawmakers have established some financial incentives for districts that merge.
But the reality is those districts won't change until they are forced to merge. Generations of family members have attended a particular rural school and don't want to lose that tie. Any lawmaker or school board member that proposes closing a local district does so at his or her own peril.
Gov. Henry doesn't see the same sort of political problem in proposing agency consolidation. In his budget this past week, the governor proposed consolidating several state agencies for a savings of about $5.3 million. For example, he proposes placing the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore under the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Medical Examiner's Office with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
The governor told journalists that he doesn't mind taking criticism over the agency consolidation idea but only if opponents come up with an alternative to saving money.
