The Importance of a Small Rural School District to the Community

Abstract

Hallsburg ISD is a small, rural, K-6 school district struggling to sustain its operations due to reduced funding from the state, decreased enrollment, and a decrease in the local tax base. This Problem in Practice Record of Study examines the sustainability issues associated with this school district and its importance to the community. Key stakeholders in the community and school district were interviewed to help develop a thick description of this district’s position in the community. Surveys were also sent to randomly selected, registered voters living in the district, to provide more in-depth data in the development of a thick description. District documents were also studied to provide more information in the plight of the district and provide for the triangulation of data.

The interviews showed a very strong relationship between the participants and the school district. The key stakeholder participants included community leaders as well as parents of current and past students who represent the district demographics. The majority of this group supported raising their taxes to improve the school district and prevent it from consolidating with a neighboring district. While the surveys strongly supported the notion of how important the school was to the community, the results were not as favorable toward raising taxes. Only half of the survey respondents favored raising their taxes to keep the local school open and keeping local control of the district. The other half favored consolidating with a neighboring school district over raising their taxes.

The overall results were very favorable toward the importance of the school district to the community. The challenging economic conditions place a very strong dilemma on many residents, as they would vote to lose their district over raising taxes. One recommendation to the district is to educate the community of the local tax situation. If Hallsburg ISD were to consolidate with any of the neighboring districts, the tax rate would immediately increase. This increase would be higher than the tax rate needed to sustain the district and keep Hallsburg School open.