We don’t agree with Debbie Pelley on much. But the religious conservative/small school champion from Northeast Arkansas circulates a memo today that raises some interesting questions. I’ll print it on the jump. She says a legislative oversight committee led by Sen. Jim Argue and Rep. Joyce Elliott received an advance copy of the latest report of the state’s education consultants before last week’s meeting with a warning that the document should not be distributed to others. The meeting didn’t draw press coverage that Pelley saw. She says that Argue said during the meeting that he wanted to draft legislation moving the minimum school district size up to 800.

A couple of things: Shame on anyone for keeping a public document secret. Shame on the lack of press coverage. But bravo to Argue if he wants to move ahead with more consolidation even though no major candidate for state office has the guts to say that we haven’t gone far enough. So far — and admirably, thanks to the governor’s fortitude and his board of education — the state has stuck with higher standards on curriculum. The only way to deliver it efficiently and thoroughly is through somewhat larger high school. Not big high schools, mind you. A district with 800 students would have a high school of only 240 or so students, barely enough to field a competitive football team (if you want to talk about something really important.) Anyway, Sen. Argue and Rep. Elliott, if you happen to check in tonight, I wonder what you might offer by way of response.

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UPDATE: Senator Argue sends along this note:

Of course, the entire report was released to everyone one week later, after the committee members had had a chance to review it, and when Picus/Odden were present to review their work, approve or reject suggested amendments to their report, and get it it final form for committee approval. It was a “working paper” before the committee meeting. We were not striving for secrecy, but rather, trying to maintain a structured committee process and avoid confusion.
 
Max, I spent three full days in open education committee meetings last week, answered countless questions from the media, constituents, and colleagues; it’s strange to be accused of perpetrating a secrecy conspiracy by Pelley, especially since the report has now been widely distributed. But then, I’m a favorite target.
 
The consolidation comment was a part of an enchange between the director of the administrator’s association and me. I used it to make the point, as they were testifying for more state funding for tiny districts, that further consolidation, in many cases, is an alternative to extraordinarily inefficient per student spending levels. We must fund truly isolated districts, even when inefficient, but it ought to be based on geographical isolation, not simply school district size.
 
Be glad to fill in any other blanks.
 
Jim Argue

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