School Consolidation Eyed

A study by the Kansas Legislative Post Audit Committee found that the state could save $15 million to $129 million a year by consolidating small school districts, closing facilities, and reducing staffing levels.

The study said the number of districts in the state could be reduced to 266 from the current 293 by combining those with fewer than 400 students or covering less than 200 square miles. It would require closing 50 schools and cost the jobs of 230 teachers and administrators.

Another option would consolidate districts with fewer than 1,600 students. It would leave the state with 152 school districts and 304 fewer schools. There would be 1,532 jobs lost.

The committee said the savings would come from fewer payments to districts with a low enrollment, but many of the costs would be shifted to local ­taxpayers.

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