Some propose downsizing and getting schools out of, for example, the bus and food trades. That would allow a district to concentrate on its core business, teaching. Only 46 percent of Michigan's public education employees are teachers, according to the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, which favors education choice. In other states, up to 63 percent of staff are actually in the classroom. The center foresees savings in contracting out noninstructional functions, including transportation, cafeteria and maintenance.
More demographic shifts are inevitable.
Managing them should fall to individual districts working within their budgets.