THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 1997 TAG: 9702120002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: 38 lines
Both the Virginia House and Senate have approved funds to determine if a cooperative of 14 Hampton Roads school districts would be a good idea.
Such cooperatives have enabled school districts in other states to save millions of dollars by making joint purchases in large volumes and by pooling their resources for such specialized services as vocational education.
Local school superintendents estimated that Hampton Roads districts could save $9 million a year by combining health coverage for employees.
Norfolk Superintendent Roy D. Nichols Jr. noted that funding agencies might be more inclined to reward districts that are cooperating.
A regional cooperative has been endorsed by by the boards of directors of the chambers of commerce for South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula and by the public/private Hampton Roads Partnership.
The 14 school districts backing the study are the seven major Hampton Roads cities, plus Accomack, Isle of Wight, Northampton, Southampton and York counties and Poquoson and Williamsburg/James City County.
The House has approved $110,000 for the one-year study; the Senate, $100,000. Presumably, the compromise will be no less than $100,000, enough to determine the merits of a cooperative and the steps needed to set one up.
There is no good reason not to have a cooperative. Individual school districts would retain their autonomy while saving money by acting cooperatively. Also, the cooperative would be a means for different school districts to compare notes and learn the best ways to provide various services.
The General Assembly should fund the study, as seems likely, and the governor should back it. Money is tight. If a cooperative can save money while improving education, it's too good an idea to ignore.
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY EDUCATION FUNDING