Pa. court backs plan to split Steel-High school district, orders creation of 'independent' district for Highspire

[Safiel]

@Guvnah

@Safiel

They have a number of serious disparities going on there that consolidation would improve.

And the next level of governance up from the school district level is either city or county. Where there are multiple districts within a city that should be consolidated (or split!), let the city referee the necessary changes. If the issue is larger than a single city let the county oversee it.

Jumping to the state level should be considered only if the lower governance level cannot handle the issue.

PS: If school districts can work it out among themselves without involving city or county oversight, let it happen at that level.

(The issue that birthed this thread shows that those school districts cannot work it out on their own.)

Although school districts are drawn along municipal boundaries in Pennsylvania, neither municipalities (whether cities, boroughs or townships) nor counties have any say or input into the governance or structure of school districts. Two or more school districts can voluntarily choose to merge, but that has happened only once in the last 30 years.

Only the Pennsylvania Legislature can provide for forcible consolidation of school districts.

So if any solution is coming, it will be coming from the Legislature.

[Guvnah]

@Safiel

Only the Pennsylvania Legislature can provide for forcible consolidation of school districts.

I figured that’s how it’s structured, but as far as I am concerned it should be at a lower governmental level. We do too much government at unnecessarily elevated levels.