School board has no alternative

What’s the alternative?

It’s safe to say that Jay School Board members are not looking forward to a vote Monday that would spell the end of block scheduling at the high school and team teaching at the middle school level.

Then again, none of those school board members looked forward to tough votes that led to the closing of Pennville Elementary School, Judge Haynes Elementary School and Westlawn Elementary School.

They didn’t look forward to consolidating the two middle schools at Jay County High School and converting that building to a junior-senior high facility.

But those were the votes they had to take because the numbers were simply inexorable and unavoidable.

School enrollment continues to decline. Available dollars for the classroom from the state are tied to the number of students.

At one point, it appeared that consolidation — those tough choices already made by the board — would be enough.

But a long-term analysis of enrollment and school spending makes clear that’s not the case.

That analysis was originally sought because school officials thought it would bolster the case for a consolidation-related capital investment of more than $20 million.

But when the numbers came back, they told another story.

What they said was this: Do what you like with consolidation, but it will never be enough unless staffing levels related to block scheduling and team teaching are scrapped.

The unexpected benefit of that news was that the capital investment required for consolidation dropped by about $10 million.

In other words, elimination of block and teaming are not only necessary to prevent future deficit spending, they also reduce the cost of consolidation.

So, on Monday, what is the alternative?

None has surfaced so far.

Simply saying, “I don’t want to see block scheduling go,” is not enough unless you can figure out a way to pay for it in the foreseeable future.

Monday’s decision is not one the board will relish. There’s nothing to enjoy. 

Team teaching and the block schedule get high marks from board members and administrators, but Jay Schools can’t afford them going forward. — J.R.