Consolidation -- is it a good thing?
The question can best be answered by the comment that Ligonier Valley School Board member Kevin Pahach offered after the Warner Concept presentation in June: "I believe that consolidation is inevitable."
Given the constant decline of student enrollment in the Ligonier Valley School District, we have seen our student population decrease from an all-time high of approximately 3,700 to an expected enrollment of approximately 1,870 for the 2009-10 school year. Over the past 10 years we have seen an average annual decline of 45.6 students.
I believe Mr. Pahach is correct in his belief that consolidation is inevitable. Unfortunately, there are those who say, "Do it later, after my kids graduate."
The time to consolidate is now. We can improve educational opportunities for students and save dollars for the taxpayer now !
Alan Paullet
Ligonier
