DESCRIPTION:

‍ ‍Without changes to state education funding, district consolidation — or even dissolution — may become a reality for a growing number of rural school districts. As district leaders evaluate long-term financial sustainability and educational opportunities for students, they may need to consider: which neighboring district would be the best consolidation partner if reorganization became necessary? If district consolidation offers the strongest path forward, how can two communities be brought together around a shared vision? Community support is critical, because families and staff can ultimately determine the outcome through a referendum vote. Attendees will get actionable insights from two pairs of rural school districts — Hustisford and Dodgeland, and Loyal and Greenwood that navigated district reorganization through transparent communication, community engagement and collaboration.

Learning Objectives

Session participants will:

• Learn what factors may prompt districts to consider consolidation, including advantages and disadvantages.

• Explore lessons learned from K-12 districts that navigated district reorganization in the past year and how they collaborated with partnering districts and their respective communities.

• Identify communication strategies to build trust and transparency during district consolidation or dissolution efforts.

• Understand key concerns of families, staff and community members during significant district change and how to manage that change.

• Learn how community engagement and meaningful input can influence support for district reorganization initiatives.

Methodology

This interactive presentation offers two unique case studies with strategic advice and actionable takeaways on what districts should do — and what they should avoid — while pursuing district reorganization. Rather than focusing on the financial impacts and state requirements to reorganize, this session will study the human impact of change management and attempting to merge two rural districts with unique identities, mascots and traditions. Superintendents from the School Districts of Greenwood and Hustisford will share their different journeys, including communication challenges, community concerns and lessons learned. Communications consultant Lisa Sink, who supported Hustisford, will join the superintendents to highlight engagement strategies, communication tactics and collaborative decision-making processes. Although the session will focus on district-level consolidation, some of the strategies also may apply to districts closing or merging schools inside their own boundary.