Perceived Benefits

• Cost Savings, specifically with district administration.
• Consistency in instruction and programs.
• Countywide unity. Perceived Concerns
• Cost Increase, specifically with salaries since two districts are at different pay scales for all employees across the district.
• Cost Increase, specifically with programs and instructional curricula utilized by one district and not the other (e.g., Montessori).
• Loss of representation and local rule. Clinton, Cross Hill, Joanna, and Mountville will become subordinate in a larger unified countywide district.
• The proposed consolidation brought forward in May openly recognizes a seven person board with a VERY LIKELY five-two split (L55 with five and L56 with two board members).
• Cost Increase, specifically with two different technology platforms running in two districts as well as hardware and software differences. Realities
• Both L55 and L56 work very closely together in many initiatives and work together to secure federal grants. They work together to secure a single price for all food items and, in fact, work closely with ten other districts in the Lakelands Region (Abbeville, Anderson 3, Edgefield, Greenwood 50, 51, and 52, Lexington 3, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda) in coordination of curricular planning, professional development, and human resources.
• The optimum size of a school district according to an analysis of ALL leading studies is 3,000. We are currently at 3,011. The current optimum size of a high school is between 800 – 1,000 students. We have 879 at CHS.
• Research also reveals students do better academically in smaller learning communities.
• Our Board stands by the merits and value of all of our schools, including our two smallest, MS Bailey CDC and Joanna-Woodson Elementary School. A larger district often seeks an “economy of scale” and is not as focused about the history of a community thus leading to mergers and closings.
• Our Board is aware of the consolidation movement and wholeheartedly stands against it. We need you to do the same.
• We need you to be vigilant in your support of our district and its vision and mission. One size does not fit all students and one size does not fit all districts. Forcing consolidation is the opposite of home rule and violates the basic principles in our representative democracy.