Education task force: Will real change result?
Gov. Mary Fallin has signed a bill that will have a task force explore ways to reduce schools’ administrative costs and make them more efficient. Few taxpayers would argue this isn’t a worthwhile objective, but could be forgiven if they expect little to come of it.
Senate Bill 514 makes no mention of consolidation, and with good reason. That’s one word that sends lawmakers running — even if many at the Capitol acknowledge the absurdity of Oklahoma having 526 school districts — and would have torpedoed the chances of SB 514 making it through the Legislature to Fallin’s desk.
Instead, the bill came out of the House on a vote of 87-1 and passed the Senate on a 42-0 vote.
The measure calls for a 12-person task force made up of lawmakers, business officials, a CareerTech representative, school board and superintendent group representatives, and superintendents and other officials from schools small and large. Among other things, the panel will:
• Look at ways to eliminate duplicative overhead costs. • Study the financial stability of school districts. • Look at the relative sizes of school districts and their proximity to other districts.
• Examine the performance of school districts on student assessments.
All of these are worthwhile pursuits. The bill’s House author, Rep. Dennis Casey, R-Morrison, made an excellent point when he said, “I don’t know why any of us would be scared to find better ways to do something.” It’s noteworthy that Casey is a former superintendent.
And yet, there is ample reason for skepticism. If the task force winds up suggesting ways to save money through administrative changes, those who favor the status quo are sure to dismiss them. This is a default response for too many in the education establishment.
This was in evidence last year at the Legislature. The president pro tem of the Senate at the time, Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, carried a bill to consolidate the administration functions of dependent school districts to save money. It was painted by opponents as an effort to close schools. That was never the intent. Yet Bingman — term limited, and thus with no reelection concerns — eventually pulled the bill from consideration. It wasn’t worth the headaches.
Likewise, a similar bill filed by former Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, got steamrolled in a House committee after administrators, teachers, parents and children went to the Capitol to voice their opposition.
Recently, Denney acknowledged that any talk of consolidation is difficult because “the school is the heart of the community in many of these small towns.” We understand that. But at the same time, taxpayers deserve to have their dollars spent as wisely as possible. Having 526 school districts, each with their own superintendents, indicates that savings are possible.
Then there are those, like Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City, who believe writing a larger check for common education is the best solution. “We have to fund it first,” he said, “then we can look at waste, fraud and abuse.”
So while it will be interesting to see what this task force finds and recommends, most telling will be whether any substantial changes actually ensue. Count us among those who hope so but think that’s unlikely.