Someone pointed out that the research I've been referencing isn't easily accessible via this blog so here it is
Penn State Center on Rural Education and Communities
-- http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/crec/topics/development Schools & community development
-- http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/crec/topics/transportation Transportation
-- http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/crec/topics/consolidation School consolidation
Rural School and Community Trust
--http://www.ruraledu.org/articles.php?id=2038 School size
If you're interested, here's the letter Blossburg Improvement Association sent the STSD board members back in Nov. 2009. It neatly summarized our overall argument: if NPHS closes, Blossburg will die; if the district loses the tax base of an entire town, it's going to be in much worse financial shape in the long term.
BIA-SaveNPHS.pdf (66.47 kb)
One more note - I'm aware that the school board is having loud debates about the direction of the district and these terrible budget decisions, but we're not seeing that at the public school board meetings. I'd like to gently remind the board members of their duties under the state Sunshine Act and hope to hear more public debate at the next work session on June 4. (This is my position, not necessarily one that's endorsed by the Save Our Schools Coalition - I haven't asked for a policy discussion on the topic.)
About Heidi I. Jones
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