District 119 Representative Roland Gutierrez (D-San Antonio) recently filed HB 2542, relating to a study of the effects of school district consolidation in Bexar County. “Bill calls for study of Bexar school district consolidation”, Maria Luisa Cesar, San Antonio Express-News, March 6, 2013.
The editors of the Express-News support the proposal:
There are more than 1,000 school districts in Texas, 16 of them in Bexar County. Bexar doesn’t need 16 superintendents, 16 purchasing agents, 16 transportation directors or 16 food service directors. And we don’t need 16 school boards.
What we do need is more efficiency in operations and more money for classroom teachers.
“Consolidate school districts”, San Antonio Express-News, March 5, 2013.
As a supporter of school choice, I can see how school district consolidation could benefit parents. For example, a larger, consolidated district on the South Side would be able to offer more in-district charters, a greater variety of magnet schools, and more options for transfers within the district. This is a step along the way towards better choices for parents.
