Nov 10, 2011 2 min read

State Rep. Tim Mahoney’s idea of consolidating all Fayette County school districts into one entity, with one superintendent and one board of directors, has definite merits. Its benefits are numerous.

The resulting significant reduction in property taxes would be a welcome relief to the beleaguered taxpayers.

The equalization of teacher and support staff salaries would eliminate the negotiations issue of keeping pace with all surrounding districts in terms of salaries.

Student transportation routes would be consolidated at a cost savings.

There could be an equalization of curricula across the districts. Anyone who has or is currently teaching knows that Fayette County has a nomadic population, with families moving in and out of school districts because of job changes, family situations, or economic reasons. Some students change schools several times in one year, and when they enter a new school they find themselves confused by different curricula and unfamiliar textbooks.

The issue of nepotism would be eliminated. One school board would eliminate the concern that some are only in that position to guarantee a job for friends or family members.

The proposed consolidation plan is an issue that must be put on the ballot as a referendum so that the decision as to whether it should occur can be made by the voters, not by administrators or school board members who may be more concerned with their jobs or their power and influence.

Let the taxpayers who are struggling to make ends meet, the elderly on fixed incomes, the under-employed and/or the unemployed decide. This issue will affect everybody, not just district administrators and board members, so let everybody have a chance to vote on it.

Linda J. Delia

Uniontown