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Perry, Morrice voters deny consolidation
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:22 AM EST
Argus-Press Photo by Anthony Cepak Community members erupt in cheers at the Morrice Community Center Tuesday night as it is announced the proposed Perry and Morrice school consolidation failed.
MORRICE/PERRY - Voters halted hopes of consolidating two local districts Tuesday, making moot the hundreds of layoff notices previously handed out to school employees.
Nearly 79 percent of voters from Morrice Area Schools and 70 percent of voters from Perry Public Schools cast ballots against joining the districts.
Not a single precinct in either district had a majority vote for consolidation; a total of 1,263 votes were cast in favor, with 3,488 against it.
The initiative was started by a citizen-based group and faced fierce opposition from parent groups from both districts throughout the year. It also caught criticism from school officials for not having the necessary planning before going on the ballot.
The Consolidation Team previously said the districts were operating inefficiently, and the move to join them would be more cost effective and offer more opportunities for students.
Dropping enrollment and rising operating costs in the state's unsteady economy were reasons given behind the quick move to a ballot.
A question to consolidate Morrice Area Schools and Perry Public Schools was last put on a ballot in June of 1990 by the boards of education. A study lasting more than a year was done before a vote was taken in 1989 as well.
Although consolidation was approved by voters in both earlier elections, it was not implemented because a connecting question asking to reinstate the non-homestead tax failed.
Perry educates about 1,850 students, while Morrice has just under 600.
Comment on this Story
Judy wrote on Jan 16, 2008 11:29 PM:
