Can they survive? Consolidation could be among many options for serving student needs

    The Grundy Register and Conrad Record will explore the future of the five school districts serving Grundy County and the biggest challenges facing them in a three-part series. Last week’s first part explored enrollment trends and begins to look at the economic angle of small schools. This week’s second part will further explore budget issues plaguing four of the five districts, which are facing declining enrollment, while beginning to explore tough decisions that must be made this year and beyond.
    Consolidation is a word that brings immediate thoughts of doom and gloom for school districts facing it. Yet it is a reality in today’s world of tightening school district budgets in rural Iowa. Many schools have already done it, and for many of those that haven’t, it could be a consideration in the future.
    Of the 15 public school districts in the North Iowa Cedar League, only four (Grundy Center, Denver, Jesup and Hudson) can truly be considered community school districts. Eleven others, including AGWSR, BCLUW, Dike-New Hartford and Gladbrook-Reinbeck in Grundy County, have already consolidated. The superintendent at the lone holdout admits he is not sure how much longer it can last.
    “If things go the way they are right now, it’s obvious that the state of Iowa is pressuring small school districts to consolidate or die. And that’s what’s happening,” Grundy Center superintendent Jerry Schutz said. “It’s usually best to date while you’re still attractive. We’ve got two school districts next to each other that have talked. And right now, I think within the past year, there has been a big change in perspective especially among the leadership in our respective schools.”
    Schutz added that there are no plans right now to whole grade share or consolidate, though there are plans to see what the districts can do together to be more efficient. He added that consolidation could someday happen.
    “I believe that that’s going to work down a path to where someday we’re going to have to move in that direction because … efficiency, class size and efficiency is the key,” he said. “And if we can find a way to do that while both districts, or whatever district decide to get together, have a voice or a say in how we can configure things, it’s usually better for the communities.”

For more of this story see the Nov. 13 Grundy Register.