The city school boundaries have not been allowed to expand in decades. Since the vast majority of development occurs outside the city district, the number of people to share in the growing costs of city schools does not increase. The city school tax rate is more than twice as much as the city government property tax rate, and the school board will be hard pressed to stop that continuing spiral in years to come. With nearly all growth occurring in the county district in the foreseeable future, managing that growth will also be an issue for the county administration. Unlike merging local governments, the process to consolidate school systems is relatively simple.
State law allows an independent school board to simply vote to merge with the county district.
If the county district refuses, or each district cannot reach a suitable agreement, the voters of each district would vote at the next general election on whether to merge the districts. A simple process does not mean this is a simple decision. It deserves careful consideration on its merits, and not a dismissal simply because it is a break from tradition. We urge this community in coming weeks to look toward the future for the best way to maintain and improve quality education for all Daviess County children.