Investigated faculty perceptions of possible mergers with other institutions at three higher education institutions in South Africa. Found that they are not opposed to the idea of institutional combinations or mergers, but that their personal issues and fears should be addressed to ensure an effective merger. (EV)

Illustrates the Byzantine complexities of implementing policy by analyzing a merger affecting three British primary schools in a local government reorganization scheme. Summarizes the policy context, highlights effects of other policies, tabulates factors relating to other externally initiated policies, discusses implications, and suggests…

Trinity University education majors visited rural mountain schools in North Carolina, finding evidence that countered their stereotypes of the conditions of, family involvement in, and attitudes about education in rural communities. Ways to improve the educational environment through distance education and reduction of inequities were suggested.…

This article describes how students in rural parts of West Virginia spend up to four hours a day riding buses to far-flung schools, built as part of the state's consolidation drive. As a result, rural communities in West Virginia have fought back by filing lawsuits, electing their allies to school boards, and defeating pro-consolidation bond…

Historically, the consolidation of school districts has brought with it many promises and perils. In this paper, the author links curriculum and community involvement within the consolidation context.

This Education Policy Brief examines the research regarding the efforts occurring in the United States to consolidate school corporations or form cooperative agreements for shared services. The brief also examines those policy levers which are contributing to the elevated discussion concerning consolidation and shared services in Indiana. Based…

One of the most remarkable yet least remarked upon accomplishments in American public education in the twentieth century is the success of the school consolidation movement. Between 1930 and 1970, nine out of every ten school districts were eliminated through consolidation. Nearly two-thirds of schools that existed in 1930 were gone by 1970. These…

Schoolpeople have instigated compulsory attendance laws, consolidated schools, and the superintendency to defend themselves against parents. In the nineteenth century schoolpeople castigated the poor for indifference; in this century they blame well-to-do parents for permissiveness and for having high expectations for their children. (Author/IRT)

Kentucky School Boards Association director provides school administrators with several suggestions for surviving the frequently controversial decisions involving school closings and consolidations. Three examples are (1) compile a comprehensive report on all data to be used in the decisions, (2) meet with concerned citizens at each affected…

This case study documents the merger of a liberal arts college and a seminary, with particular attention to fiscal aspects of the venture. The interaction of Friends Regional University (FRU) with its seminary offers important theoretical lessons because of the interplay of three factors: 1) FRU has a strong institutional context based on the…

The consolidation of rural schools in the United States has been a controversial topic for policy-makers, school administrators, and rural communities since the 1800s. At issue in the consolidation movement have been concerns of efficiency, economics, student achievement, school size, and community identity. Throughout the history of schooling in…

At the request of the National Office for Black Catholics, the University of Dayton recently conducted two surveys of Catholic dioceses and diocesan school systems which have significant numbers of black Catholics and black non-Catholics. The diocesan survey attempted to assess the involvement of the dioceses with blacks, the participation of…

The article describes an approach to centralization of classes in a rural Pennsylvania school system with numerous small school buildings. The reasons for development of a kindergarten center are described as are the positive and negative aspects of the kindergarten center. (Author)

Looks at arguments for and against school consolidation which fall within the concerns of economic efficiency and size. Suggests a need to consider the effects of consolidation on the communities served by the schools. (AH)