Smaller Schools
Smaller Districts

"But it appears that smaller districts on average may be more effective and efficient: Their students appear to score higher on standardized tests (other things being equal) and they may be more satisfying to parents and citizens."

- From 'District Size and Student Learning', by Herbert J. Walberg - University of Illinois at Chicago

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Regarding Apparent Fear of Creating Smaller Districts

July 19, 2003

Dear Editors,

Due to conflicting reports and some fear mongering spread by those who put current self interest ahead of our children and future, I would like to speak out on behalf of the Alpine School District division proposal.

Why are some district officials so afraid of and unwilling to look at the research or even have a financial study done to CONSIDER creating smaller community districts? There is now a great deal of research which says big schools and big districts are bad for students and patrons for many reasons, that moderately sized districts and schools do NOT cost more, and that it is the lower-socioeconomic areas that need smaller schools and districts the most. Could it be that a site-specific study might find that a community-sized district functions just as efficiently and that teachers and principals could function well in a smaller district without many of the district officials?

Let us look at some evidence. If Lehi West were made a district, it would have about 8000 students. That is bigger than 27 of the 40 Utah districts. Only 13 districts would be bigger. The national average for districts is about 2500 students, so Lehi would be more than twice the average size. As a district, Orem would be smaller than only five or six districts.

Are smaller districts more expensive administratively? For the year 2000, the most efficient district was Logan with 5778 students ($169 per student). Juab was next ($219) with 1830 students. South Sanpete was third ($225) with 2741 students. Nebo was fourth ($249). Alpine was fifth ($256). It is true that Daggett was more expensive at $719 per student, but most of the districts were relatively close in costs - as long as they had over 1000 students. The point is, picking only Daggett as an example of the cost of small districts is disingenuous.

What about funding for teachers and supplies? Most of the property tax paid to schools is combined with the state income tax and appropriated on a per pupil basis to the districts. Whether it is a big or a little district, you still get the same dollars per student, with more dollars for specified problems. In fact, when we say that Alpine or Nebo Districts get the least amount per student, it gives an incorrect picture as well. If we had the problems that an urban Ogden district or rural San Juan have, we would get the same amount of money as they do. Alpine district gets less money because it has less problems in its communities. In a Lehi district, there would be plenty of funding to continue salaries, benefits, supplies, and any programs currently in place because the money comes with the students.

Would we need to replicate every district building that Alpine has? No, we would be entitled to proportionate office space in the current district office or we could opt to move into one of the schools or even (gasp!) use trailer space for the district office instead of putting students in them! South Summit District does that now.

What about past and future debt? Tax liability for current bonds would remain the same and bonds already approved would be used as represented to voters when they were voted on. Whatever Lehi decided to do for schools in the future would be their choice not dependent on Orem or anywhere else. That means we would not have to buy their votes with additions to their schools to build our schools. In the end we would get what we were willing to pay for and it would not be tied up in arguments about who is getting more than whom.

If we stay together, I do not believe we will be able to pass the next bond which has been promised to build a second Lehi high school(which by the way would be built in Highland not Lehi). The vote from Orem will be hard to get, and there are too many bad feelings already toward the district in Lehi and Highland over decisions made regarding building boundaries or renovating high schools, etc. I do not debate those decisions. I am merely stating the feelings of voters.

Research shows that smaller districts have better test scores, but their best effect is that they help with equity. The greatest predictor of test scores is how rich or poor the parents of the students are. However small districts especially when combined with small schools nearly erase what has been called the Power of Poverty to bring down scores. The poorer the area, the MORE they need smaller schools and districts.

Smaller districts are less likely to be manipulated by national special interest groups. They provide more accountability from both the educators and the patrons. The LDS church, for example, employs this understanding in its governance of its units and is one key as to why it can maintain its rapid growth in the world. It grows by dividing, just as cells do! Our bodies would not function better as one massive cell. The collection of smaller cells allows diversification.

Private schools and charter schools are essentially a one school-school district. Community-sized districts are the proper balance between these very small entities and the big district monopolies.

Regardless, without the petition drive, there will be no site-specific, impartial study. There is very strong evidence and reasoning for dividing big districts. The study would replace speculation with solid information. To do this, we need signatures. To really consider this, we need the facts not fears or threats. Then, and only then, can we really debate the issue, after which we can all cast our informed votes in the 2004 general election.

Sincerely,

David N. Cox
Lehi, UT
cc:New Utah, Daily Herald, Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune

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