State Senator Stephanie Bice is evidently the newest harbinger of small school consolidation for corporate legislators - replacing corporate mail carriers such as Rep. Jon Echols, Sen. Gary Stanislawski, and Rep. Bobby Cleveland. Bice's Senate Bill 920 would require administrative consolidation of school districts of less than 200 average daily attendance. Senator Bice stated in October 2017, that her "constituents" (voters) want school consolidation in Oklahoma. A quick look at Bice's Senate district reveals that she has no schools which have less than 200 students, as Edmond and west Oklahoma City schools are her primary schools of interest. It's no wonder that she has no concerns of losing voters as she champions the school consolidation cause.
There are currently 96 school districts with less than 200 students - 40 K-12 schools, 52 K-8 schools, and 4 charter schools. It's a safe bet that the 4 charter schools will not be administratively consolidated, as they are protected by the corporate legislators in the House - which leaves 92 schools as the sacrificial lamb for those wanting the latest Step Up Oklahoma budget bill to succeed. The 92 small schools are located in 53 of the 77 counties, or about 40 House districts (someone check my math). If SB 920 eventually gets to a House vote, there could be 60 Representatives vote "Yes". In other words, in order for corporate lawmakers to support the Step Up budget plan - they must get something in return, and that something appears to be the 92 small school districts. In the opinion of many public school experts, school consolidation is closer than ever, and Senate Bill 920 appears to have taken the place of Fallin's 60 percent executive order.
Let's examine the 96 small schools' demographics again, and what implications could result from administrative consolidation. First of all, my employment would not be threatened by this consolidation bill, as I work for a school with approximately 2000 students, and I am nearing retirement anyway. So, the question may be asked: Why is a school employee who works for a school ( in no danger of consolidating) pointing out the fallacy of Bice's SB 920? The Bill will not affect my school or me in any way, form, or fashion, so what gives? My position on small school consolidation can be traced to the poem written by Martin Niemoller after he spent seven years in a Nazi concentration camp during the 1930's and 1940's. It goes something like this:
Then They Came for Me
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out -
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me -
and there was no one left to speak for me."
Many who've read or listened to Niemoller believe he was lamenting that, as he stood by and watched others being led away to certain death or long term internment, the Nazis would leave him alone - if he only kept his mouth shut. He found out it was not to be, as they eventually came back for him. The lesson for me is that "one must always advocate for what is right, even though it may risk one's own safety and may not appear to affect the same. My belief is that although SB 920 will not affect my school, I should still point out the fallacy of it - for my friends and neighbors.
Senate Bill 920 will affect the autonomy of approximately 40 K-12 schools and 52 K-8 schools in Oklahoma, even though it's only administrative consolidation. So, let's examine a hypothetical case of administrative consolidation to find out how small school autonomy is lost: School A has 2000 students and School B has 190 students. School A has a 5 member board which has employed a superintendent to provide the best education possible for its students and School B has a 3 member board to do the same. Under SB 920, School B may be administratively consolidated with School A, so the small school could lose its autonomy in all decisions related to the well-being of its students. The 3 member small school board was democratically elected to make the best decisions for the district's students, ditto the 5 member large school board. Once the two schools were consolidated into one, only one superintendent would run both. The best decisions for School A students would not necessarily be the best decisions for School B students. Autonomous decision making would be lost for School B.
Another concern School A may have with administrative consolidation to School B is: Once administratively consolidated with School B, School A will assume the district debt of School B. Many School A citizens do not want the district debt of School B, but would have it under SB 920. In other words, School A property owners would not want the debt of School B to be placed on their tax bills, but under Bice's Bill - it would be.
Even though my school is under no threat to be consolidated under SB 920, I will continue to speak out against all consolidation - because you never know when corporate lawmakers will come for all, and it could be sooner than we think...
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