Officials with the Pawnee and Divernon school
districts say
that a soon-to-be-released study is expected to answer the question
of whether the two rural districts should merge.
The idea of combining the two Sangamon County
districts was broached last year by Divernon Schools Superintendent
Mark Spaid. Informal talks between the two district boards led to a
community meeting in October that drew more than 100 people.
“It was very cordial,” says
Pawnee Superintendent Lonny B. Lemon. “People asked a lot of
questions.”
Only six miles apart, the two rural districts
are similar in makeup. They already share some sports programs, in
fact, and many faculty members from the two districts know each
other. Both districts have engaged in deficit spending in recent
few years, and Divernon is on the state’s financial watch
list. Both districts have cut programs but have well-maintained
buildings.
And both districts boast 100 percent
graduation rates.
“We have a good environment, great
staff, and community support,” Spaid says. What Divernon does
not have is much prospect of growth except through merger, he says.
School enrollments there have slowly and steadily declined since he
arrived 10 years ago.
If the $5,000 feasibility study, the cost of
which is shared by the two districts, favors reorganization and if
everything goes right, the earliest a referendum could be held is
November 2006 and the earliest the newly merged district could
begin operations is the 2007-08 school year. “A lot of things
have to happen,” Spaid says, “and a lot of things can
go wrong.”
The two boards will decide how many of the
study’s recommendations to accept, then work out such details as
administrators, buildings, and a new name for the fledgling district.
Right now, there is a lot of speculation — and some concern.
“I’ve lived here all my
life, and they’ve talked about merger three times,”
says Mark Bearden of Bearden’s Family Restaurant in Divernon.
“People are worried about their real-estate values. If we
don’t have a high school, people won’t want to come
here.
“Divernon is worried about its
identity,” he says. “We’re the Dragons. What are
we going to be if Pawnee takes our high school? Alumni are worried.
Divernon is a big sports town. That’s what they’re
worried about.
“Academically, [reorganization] needs
to happen. We can’t offer classes we need to offer,”
Bearden says.
Spaid says that it’s difficult for a
small high school to be financially efficient. He projects an
enrollment of just 68 next year. Nonetheless, the district has won
a Bright Star Award for its pupils’ test scores, and it
offers six levels of math.
In Pawnee, Bill Bowsher, of Bowsher’s
Furniture, says that he sees nothing wrong with a merger: “You
gotta do what you gotta do.”
Dolores Ford Mobley, president of the
Divernon Parent-Teacher Organization, says that several people have
told her that they have to “put the kids first, even though
it’s hard to let go of hometown school traditions.”
She adds, “It’s easier for a
larger high school to offer more of a curriculum.” But she
sees advantages in small schools as well. The schools will still be
relatively small.
“Wise people look at the schools when
considering a town,” Lemon says. “The school district
and education are a big factor. That’s something communities
have to keep in mind if they want economic growth. Our board and
staff are committed to providing the best education, to make this
an attractive setting.
“Most communities fight like crazy to
keep their schools,” he adds. “The toughest animal to
kill is the school mascot.”
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2005.
