"Surely now is the time to explain to folks the benefits of consolidation. It's only for the betterment of their communities and their districts and their ability to educate their own kids."
Having someone come in from the outside and telling people how to run their own communities - especially when I guarantee you they have heard everything you would tell them - is not generally a good way of convincing people of your point, even if you might be correct.
I didn't indicate, and certainly didn't mean to imply, that it should be "an outsider."
I grew up in Quincy, a big tiny town as we always said. Trust when I say the people in Quincy don't listen to anyone outside of Quincy. They're a very stubborn lot. Meaning they also wouldn't listen to some "CEO" type walking in and making changes either. But they also wouldn't want to listen to the state education board mandating it, which seems the next logical step for the state of Illinois as the pennies keep getting pinched.
I remember when Illini West was "born." It was heartbreaking for some, exciting for others. But in the end, they survived and are still around. Not as Carthage, Dallas City, or La Harpe, but they've grown as a much larger community I'm sure because of it. Hamilton and Warsaw were as bitter of rivals as Carthage and La Harpe, they too knew consolidating was the best option moving forward.
There's intelligent people we'd assume in control of these districts. They're in those positions to do many things, but among them is to make difficult decisions about the future of their district(s). If they aren't willing to see the writings on the walls, then a much harsher reality awaits them, imo.
It's almost always better to be ahead of the curve. Better to be proactive, rather than reactive. Right?
Dramatic? Sure... but closing schools is never without push back, grief, and/or anger.
It's not about how much pride you have for you community anymore when you're making emotional decisions and dismissing common sense. That seems a direct stance in opposition to your community.
Just a single opinion and I'm up for the discussion, not slinging negativity towards these districts for clinging on. That's their personal choice and if they can fiscally do it, tip of the cap to them. But it's the "extras" that always get chopped off... I would just want a larger district that could potentially offer more, not less.
