A Knight in Dragonland

From the staff editorial in the weekend edition (April 7-8) of the Daily Times (bold emphasis mine):

At this time, it should be apparent the progress toward consolidation that a November 2006 referendum told the two districts to work toward is stalled. The reason: Pekin schools and feeder districts have unique situations that make us virtually ineligible to take advantage of the law as it exists today.

That does not mean the issue is dead. It’s just hit a road block. So maybe it’s time for consolidation supporters to take the issue to the next level: Springfield.

Proponents should re-evaluate their strategy of trying to convince local school boards to spend money on a study that would likely be outdated before the present law is ever revised.

Then, they should get organized to lobby the state house for changes to the law.

Proponents should corral like-minded citizens to work together, share resources and knowledge.

We still have seen no convincing evidence that consolidation will offer any financial or educational advantages. However, given the results of the referendum, in which voters instructed 108 and 303 to pursue consolidation, we still believe, as we have previously said in this space, that the issue deserves consideration and study. District 303 did make some preliminary moves in that direction, but dropped its plans to fund a study after discovering just how difficult and expensive and ultimately fruitless the result was likely to be.

At this point, it’s our opinion that the District 303 board recently made the right decision not to fund a consolidation study.

If the law changes, that’s a different story.

But to make that happen, somebody has to take the ball and run with it to the state capital.

It’s time to do something, or change the subject.

Amen!