D210 Candidates Answer: Should the District Consider Consolidation?

Every day this week, Patch will give you the Lincoln-Way District 210 candidates' answers to a different question that deals with the financial and educational issues facing the school district.

We'll compile all the responses here, ordered in the way names will be on the ballot, and you can also get more election information on the . Today's question is:

If the state were to allow for district consolidation, is that something 210 should consider? If so, why?

If it is something the state decides to move forward on, it's not something we could object to. From our end, I do think we would not have as hard a time adjusting than other districts, because we already have relationships with our feeder districts. We do a lot with transportation and other programs. Would we enjoy it? No. Would we be able to adjust easier than others? Yes.

I am not in support of consolidation. Having our own local control of the schools is important. Also, when you consolidate, finding the right leadership for a kindergarten through high school district is very challenging.

To me, if he’s looking at countywide school boards, it could be too big. For instance in Will County there’s 17 high school districts, not counting the number of grade school districts. There is cost-savings in the economy of scale. But there’s got to be additional costs when your school district is that big. To save $100 million...the Lincoln-Way High School District's budget is $96 million. To me, that isn’t enough savings. If there’s high school districts down state that are 300 or 400 students, there would be an advantage to consolidate with another district. The bigger the district, the more curriculum advantage you have.

If the state were to pass a law, it's not like they would give us a choice. But it's my understanding that has been taken off the table. Do I favor it? No. The wider they spread a district, the less you have local control over the schools. And I think community input is important.

That’s a tricky question. Consolidation would be good for 210 but not within 210. ... Do districts in 210 need to be consolidated? No. Should districts throughout the state be consolidated? Yeah. We’ve got way too many school districts in the state.

Yes, but it depends on the district's finiancial stability. I dont think we need to merge with a district and take over there budget problems. I think everything should be looked at to lower our spending. I came from a private school system that one board did control high school and grade schools. If we can merge with some grade schools in the 210 district and structure it better than what we have now, why not take a look at it.

I think you always consider a proposal when it's brought to you. I think what would be somewhat feasible is consolidation of grades K through 12 within a single district. ... I don't think it would be fiscally sound (for 210) to become married to a district that’s been fiscally irresponsible. I think if there’s consolidation, it should be more internal than actually combining with other high school districts in the area. 

I don’t think consolidation would be beneficial to 210. I think rather than consolidation, sharing the resources (between school districts) would be a better way to do things. 

Mark Zilinskas did not respond to multiple phone calls.