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Commissioner warns of state school consolidation and urges local awareness
Summary
Commissioner Horace Duke described a state-led consolidation plan he said requires 12 districts and a preliminary plan by December; commissioners voiced concern and noted the issue may be beyond local control.
Commissioner Horace Duke used the meeting to raise concerns about recent state actions on school governance. Duke told the commission he understands the Legislature passed a measure requiring large, consolidated districts and urged local attention: "They are going to try and do this... By December they must have a preliminary plan." He said he feared the plan would not save money and described an outcome of roughly 12 districts of about 4,000 students each.
Other commissioners responded with concern; Susan Lyons called the issue "definitely a very big concern." The commission did not take formal action on the state policy at the meeting; Duke encouraged residents and local leaders to follow state-level developments and said he expects planning work and stakeholder additions — including retired superintendents — to be part of the state process.
