I work for the North Central Educational Service District and I am contracted by multiple school districts to provide support for their computer systems. I play a large role in the purchasing, management and operation of these systems and, in most cases, I work directly with the students, staff, and administration of all school districts I serve. I strongly believe that the best can be achieved at minimal costs, and at the ESD I help to give our schools and kids the best at a minimal cost.

My issue today comes after reading about the proposed legislation to consolidate schools that has been written into the state’s budget bill. There are many small schools in our area that will be impacted severely by such legislation. While I do realize it is expensive to operate many school districts, I also see the direct impact that small districts have on our smaller communities as well as the impact on our kids who attend the schools within the communities. This is especially true for low income families who live within these districts. For this reason, I am very opposed to small school district consolidation. There are better ways to manage the state’s budget without impacting our kids, as they are our future.

In a small school, students are placed in an environment where they can build and maintain their own identities. They are not simply a number that is thrown into a class of many, but instead they are put into a class where the teachers understand them, know their parents and can help them to achieve at a level not seen in larger districts. Statistics show that smaller schools generally have higher test scores, higher graduation rates and a lower dropout rate. This is due to a well-rounded system of parent/teacher/community interaction. They are able to learn about themselves, about others, and I feel they are better prepared for life due to the opportunities that are offered to them. With school consolidation, this bond and interaction between parents/teachers/community will be lost and I feel we will be doing an injustice to our future.

While I do believe that funding is an issue, I also believe that the state needs to look at other areas of concern before school consolidation. For example, our governor right now is being paid $166,891. The secretary of state is being paid $116,950, which is $38,773 more than 10 years ago. The attorney general is being paid $151,718, which is $31,718 more than 10 years ago. These three are just examples. I understand that their jobs require many hours of work and dedication, but a 10-year pay raise of over $30,000 to me is unnecessary. As a taxpayer, I would rather see some of that money come back to impact a few hundred kids rather than a single individual. I also find it hard to believe that a state official could not make a living off of a $10,000-per-month salary 10 years ago, not to mention today either. My point is, there are other areas of government spending that need and should be reduced before that which impacts our future. There are other places to cut as well. Some of our kids are attending school in buildings that are unhealthy, unsanitary, and are literally falling apart due to the lack of funding to fix, repair or build newer facilities. I’m sure they would love a one-time check of $30,000.

Before we cut more on education, we need to look at the overall impact it will have down the road. By consolidating schools, more students will not succeed as they will not have the one-on-one education they deserve. Jobs and opportunities for these kids will not be as achievable as they will not get the education they deserve. Our already-established school buildings will be abandoned and begin/continue to crumble. Our kids will spend more time on a bus to and from another school. I simply do not see school consolidation as a viable option at this time.

We need to support our kids and their future, while supporting our communities and their way of life. We need to ensure that our kids have the knowledge and opportunity to be successful, no matter where they live.

Adam Foged lives in Mansfield.