WOZNIAK OUTLINES PATH TO SCHOOL-DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION

     HARRISBURG, April 28, 2009 – State Sen. John N. Wozniak today outlined a plan to save taxpayer money through realignment and consolidation of Pennsylvania’s more than 500 school districts.

     “Pennsylvania taxpayers can no longer afford the sacred turf and parochialism of the current school system,” Wozniak said. “If Pennsylvania schools were in a competitive business, they would have been closed down by redundant management, excessive paperwork, and limited buying power.”

     Wozniak was joined at a Harrisburg news conference today by Pennsylvania Education Secretary Edward Zahorchak, who will chair a realignment commission consisting of lawmakers, educators, administrators and parents.

            Wozniak’s legislation calls for the creation of a 15-member commission appointed by the governor and legislative leaders.  The commission will be required to hold numerous public hearings before voting to approve as many as two plans for district realignment.   The General Assembly will then vote to approve one of the plans.

     “We specifically avoided quotas or preconceptions about district size,” Wozniak said. “We want the members of the commission to have wide latitude in recommending the shape and size of the new districts.”

     While Pennsylvania school enrollment has dropped by nearly a quarter over the past 40 years, state spending on education has continued a dramatic rise.

     “I have consistently supported investments in educating future generations,” Wozniak said, “but we cannot keep faith with those paying the bills without looking for ways to trim costs through more efficient operations.”

     Wozniak said supporters of the legislation will have to dispel the misconception that consolidation means school closures.

     “This bill will not close a single school that would not have eventually been closed due to enrollment trends,” he said. “The goal of this legislation is to consolidate and streamline management.”

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