Consultant sees no need for school consolidation

West Chicago Community High School District 94 and its three elementary feeder districts are doing such a good job individually that they don't need to merge into a single system, a consulting firm has concluded.

In fact, Consulting and Resource Group is recommending no changes at this time to District 94, Winfield Elementary District 34, Benjamin Elementary District 25 and West Chicago Elementary District 33.

"We found that - for the first time in the 38 studies that I've done - the districts would actually be better off to stay exactly the way they are," said William H. Phillips, an associate professor at the University of Illinois-Springfield and a leading authority on the topic of school consolidation.

The results of the $15,000 study, which was funded by the four school districts and the state, are expected to silence any further talk of consolidating

"I don't know why any board would be looking to proceed," District 33 Superintendent Ed Leman said.

District 34 Superintendent Diane Cody agreed, adding she's not surprised by the results of the study.

"I think all four districts do a great job of educating kids," Cody said. "We do a great job of watching our money and we've all been so conscious of doing the right thing that I am not at all surprised by the conclusion."

Even District 94 school board president Tony Reyes, who was the driving force behind the consolidation push, said the study will "quell the concerns" of anyone who thought a merger would create a more efficient and cost-effective learning environment for the roughly 7,200 students in the districts.

"I think this will put the issue to bed for another 10 to 15 years," Reyes said.

While all four districts agreed to help pay for the study, school officials with the elementary districts made no promises about pushing for consolidation.

School officials in District 25, for instance, last year said they weren't interested in pursuing the matter because of concerns from parents that consolidation would compromise the district's local control and traditionally high standardized test scores.

Of the handful of school districts in Illinois that consolidate every year, Phillips said many do it to offset financial constraints.

However, the four DuPage County districts the consultants examined have strong fund balances, well maintained buildings and high academic achievement. Student population projections also don't create a scenario where consolidation is warranted, the consultants said.

"You have a wonderful operating system," Phillips told representatives from the districts. "Now it doesn't mean that there couldn't be some improvements here and there. But somebody is doing a pretty good job here. And I really don't think that to just reorganize the entire system into one is going to make that significant improvement."