With more school districts and less population than San
Francisco County, the San Benito County Grand Jury has called on
the county to
”
re-examine our local school system and see if some type of
re-design would reduce overhead costs
”
in its annual report.
With more school districts and less population than San Francisco County, the San Benito County Grand Jury has called on the county to “re-examine our local school system and see if some type of re-design would reduce overhead costs” in its annual report.
The Grand Jury looked into the idea of consolidation because of the dire financial situation of the state and county, foreman Patrick McKenzie said. The Grand Jury report asked the San Benito County Board of Education to create an independent panel that would look into the financial and overall feasibility of consolidating the county’s 12 school districts. Responses from the districts and the boards are expected by October 1, 90 days after the report was first issued.
“We felt it was necessary that we addressed this issue now because of the financial problems we are having,” McKenzie said.
The report outlines both the benefits and the issues of a consolidation of the county’s 12 districts and six superintendents. In comparison, San Francisco County has one district and superintendent despite a population that is nearly 15 times larger. San Benito County also has 58 board members for 23 of its schools, while San Francisco has five for its 100 schools.
The recommendation for consolidation of school districts was among other ideas from the civil grand jury this year. Others relating to consolidating agencies included recommendations to take similar approaches with law enforcement and fire protection.
A restructuring of the school districts could potentially bring the county savings of nearly $1.25 million, according to the report. Savings would come from the reorganization of superintendents and district board members. And at the same time, it would cost the county jobs by eliminating positions in each districts’ offices, contends the civil jury.
But San Benito County Office of Education Superintendent Mike Sanchez can’t agree with any possible savings because no such study has been done.
“We will take a look at it and move on from there,” Sanchez said. “We need to see what will work for us.”
Sanchez wasn’t sure if consolidation would help, but realized it was the school office’s responsibility to provide a good service to the county and its students, he said.
See the full story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
