An argument for consolidation

To the Editor:

This is in response to a letter from Richard Creeron regarding school consolidation (“Why won’t school boards consider consolidation?” Nov. 19-25). I was waiting for a response and never saw one. Maybe people were busy planning for the holidays and never gave the idea of consolidation any thought during that busy season.

It is now approaching school budget planning time, and it is definitely time to consider better planning on the part of our school boards. Four school districts in one community is extreme. Mr. Creeron, the school board will never consider consolidation unless the taxpayers demand they do a study of what will be saved with consolidation and then put it up to a referendum.

Consolidation was considered in 1996, but the economic climate has certainly changed, especially in the one district that enjoyed the benefits paid by Green Acres. There are more foreclosures in that district than the other two school districts, and I would think the residents would welcome some tax relief if consolidation were to come to fruition.

I urge everyone to start attending your school board meetings and speak your mind. The board is there to hear and act on your behalf.

Are the taxpayers aware that in District 13 alone, there are four principals, a superintendent, an assistant superintendent of special services, an assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, an assistant superintendent for business, and a supervisor of buildings and grounds? Are the taxpayers aware of the salaries of each? In the event all of these positions were needed, with consolidation, each one would cover all four school districts.

In District 30, there is a superintendent, assistant superintendent for business, director of curriculum and instruction, director of special education, director of facilities and operations and director of technology, as well as three principals and two assistant principals.

In the Central High School District there is a superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, assistant superintendent of personnel and administration and an assistant superintendent for finance and operations.

Stop talking about what the teachers are earning and the programs that will have to be cut from the students to save money and take a look at the big picture. There has never been a better time to consolidate the four school districts into one.                                                           
Carol A. Lanzilotta

Valley Stream