Could four Valley Stream school districts become one?

Part one of a series

Though consolidation of Valley Stream’s four school districts has been talked about since the Central High School District was formed in the 1920s, rarely have there been any serious efforts to form one unified school system.

In Valley Stream, Districts 13, 24 and 30 serve elementary school children in kindergarten through sixth grade. The Central High School District educates all seventh through 12th-graders from those three elementary districts.

Many school leaders in the four districts say they are open to the idea of a study, to explore the pros and cons of a consolidated school district. A merged district would have more than 9,000 students in 14 schools. It would also affect taxes, with residents in all three districts for the first time paying an equal tax rate. Right now, District 30 residents enjoy the biggest benefit because of the Green Acres Mall.

But school leaders say that academics, not money, should be the reason for exploring consolidation. “We feel there’s definitely educational matters to be considered,” said Elise Antonelli, president of the District 30 Board of Education. “The education benefits have to be weighed against the financial impact.”

Following a consolidation study that was completed in the mid-1990s, it was the District 30 Board of Education that decided against a referendum that would allow taxpayers a chance to vote for or against consolidation. Board members in District 13 and 24 supported a public vote, as did a majority of the high school board, but without unanimous consent the issue was dead.

More than a decade later District 30 board members are now open to at least exploring the issue. Antonelli has asked fellow trustee Ken Cummings to address the topic at the next Central High School District Board of Education meeting. Cummings is president of the high school board, which consists of representatives from each elementary district.