Search

The relatively high number of school districts in New Jersey, with a legacy of a strong local home rule heritage, has been of interest to policymakers for many years. In the past few years, concerns for cost, educational equity, and program quality have brought new interest in consolidating these districts. Of the state's 603 local school districts, 281 have fewer than 1,000 students, and 146 have fewer than 500. It appears that limited progress toward school district consolidation could be achieved through strengthening financial incentives, facilitating public understanding of the advantages, eliminating statutory barriers, expanding state technical support, and encouraging regional approaches to such areas as transportation and school construction. This review of reports prepared for local districts, accompanied by interviews with district administrative personnel, offers a clearer picture of the regionalization process and its associated problems. Public perception does not favor regionalization at present, and the state's relatively high dependence on the property tax means that financial aid or financial penalties will probably be necessary to encourage mergers. Recommendations are made to encourage consolidation, by demonstrating that regional systems produce substantial operational savings, better program offerings, and improved facilities. It is noted that the smaller, poorer districts, those most likely to benefit from regionalization, are the least likely to be able to afford it. (Contains 2 figures and 6 tables.) (SLD)

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 directions for further research. (22 references) (MLH)

In Australia, the 1987 Dawkins green paper supposedly set clear guidelines for merging institutions in the new unified national system. There was little government guidance in merger efforts. Now there are three universities--planners' least-preferred option. All offer postgraduate management education. The Dawkins paper has minimally influenced graduate management programs. (20 references) (MLH)

Until teachers and administrators work together in shared partnerships involving the significant facets of education (curriculum, instruction, leadership, and governance), the profession will be driven by external interests and constituencies. In this special issue, teacher and administrator educators begin a conversation about merging preparation and professional development for teachers and administrators. Four articles are summarized. (MLH)

Examines empowerment issues involved in pursuing shared administrator/teacher professionalism. Arguing that all educators have role expectations grounded in moral ideals and commitments external to their current and historic roles, substantiates the call for greater teacher autonomy and empowerment, while establishing the need for and authority of school administrators. (27 references) (MLH)

A study investigated the development of a culture supporting scholarship in four comprehensive institutions: a merger university, a technical university, a regional state university, and a parochial college. The strategies of each institution and the disciplinary differences reflected in the cultures of the English and mathematics departments are considered. Implications for institutional policy are explored briefly. (MSE)

Discussion of the creation of the Pennsylvania College of Technology, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania State University, and replacing Williamsport Area Community College, looks at the decisions behind the merger; new governance structures; and strengths, challenges, and concerns about future success. New opportunities for program expansion, student recruitment, and construction of new facilities are also noted. (MSE)

Describes the interactions among deaf and hearing students at the Kinzie School, Chicago (Illinois), an innovative elementary school where deaf and hearing students learn in inclusive classrooms with shared activities. The program evolved from two schools sharing one building to an integrated program that continues to acknowledge deaf culture. (SLD)

Describes the process of developing an administrative information system for the University of Debrecen (Hungary), a merger of four small universities and three colleges. Focuses on administrative applications (personnel, enrollment management, student records, financial aid, curriculum materials), student access to computers, campus-wide information systems, and management training. (MSE)

A study analyzed the change in average cost per student and student/faculty ratios of a selection of Victoria (Australia) colleges of advanced education that were involved in 1981-82 mergers. Results are compared to average costs of some colleges not involved in the mergers to discover whether mergers resulted in economies of scale. (Author/MSE)

A survey of 293 faculty in 10 Australian institutions affected by the recent national reorganization of higher education explored their perceptions of the impact of systematic restructuring, including institutional amalgamation/redesignation, values of the new universities, and the nature of the new national system. Results reflect profound and discomfiting change for faculty, with mergers most difficult. (MSE)

Examines in three phases whether managerial communication processes differ in more and less successful mergers. Interviews employees of four financial institutions to develop hypotheses on managerial communication activities. Formulates hypotheses and identifies several contingencies that appeared to influence the communication needs of employees in acquired organizations. (PA)

Discusses how to conduct a top-level analysis of training management functions to identify problems within a training system resulting from rapid growth, the acquisition of new departments, or mergers. The data gathering process and analyses are explained, training management functions and activities are described, and root causes and solutions are discussed. (LRW)

The evolution of Swinburne University of Technology (Australia), resulting from a merger and redesignation of an institute of technology and a college, is chronicled, with attention given to educational philosophy, public educational policy, and the institution's unique role in the national higher education system. (MSE)

Using data from a 1991 survey of social work program deans and directors, the experiences of recently merged, long-term merged, and independent social work programs with salaries, financial resources, promotion and tenure, staff morale, enrollment, curriculum, class size, and access to central administration are compared. Respondents' views are summarized and recommendations are made for preserving autonomy within mergers. (MSE)

Based on a year-long cultural study, undertaken for the 1994 merger of Bethany Theological Seminary (Illinois) and Earlham School of Religion (Indiana), this essay describes distinctive aspects of the two institutional cultures, identifies potential cultural conflicts, and discusses the implications and benefits of using cultural research to guide institutional policy and practice. (MSE)

With the 40th anniversary of the merger of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), unions continue to merge to face the challenges and economic uncertainties of the future. Mergers enable unions to enhance bargaining and organizing power, eliminate duplication, and increase financial resources. (Author/JOW)

Lessons learned in the merger of two junior high schools, one predominantly black and one predominantly white, with a history of competition and distrust, illustrate the sense of community that can be developed with shared decision making and respect for cultural differences. Reducing ability grouping was vital in unifying the academic structures. (SLD)

Provides a description and assessment of the merger of the government publications division and the maps division at the San Diego State University (California) library that was necessitated by budgetary constraints. The impact on patrons is discussed, including reference assistance, arrangement of materials, reference and circulation policies, and electronic access. (LRW)

Describes plans to combine the University of Papua New Guinea's library and information studies with journalism and communication studies within a new South Pacific Centre for Communication and Information in Development. Issues covered include the planning process, the center's goals, and suggested programs of study. A sidebar presents abstracts from the national information policy. (10 references) (KRN)

During 1992-93, the school of social work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was confronted with proposals for elimination, merger, and consolidation. This case study examines the proposals and rationales behind the school's strategies to counter them. Implications for social work programs in similar circumstances are discussed. (MSE)

Offers a case study of a merger of two local theaters. Finds that organizational change causes customers to change vendors; the announcement of a merger fuels efforts by competitors to "steal" market share; and organizational change leads to more organizational change. (SR)

Although, during most of higher education's history, institutional mergers have been driven by financial need, a growing number of colleges and universities are merging to advance quality and breadth of services as well. These proactive, entrepreneurial mergers represent a new planning strategy. (MSE)

Reports results of the 1994 Automated System Marketplace survey based on responses from 60 vendors. Highlights include changes in the library automation marketplace; estimated library systems revenues; minicomputer and microcomputer-based systems; marketplace trends; global markets and mergers; research needs; new purchase processes; and profiles of 33 vendors. (LRW)

Australia's efforts toward developing a national system of higher education through mergers of universities and colleges of advanced education is analyzed, drawing on official reports, views expressed by key individuals, archival records, and interviews with personnel involved in the merger of La Trobe University and Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences. (Author/MSE)

A discussion of the effects of Australia's restructuring of higher education on institutional diversity focuses on one institution, the University of South Australia, which resulted from a merger of two institutions. The decision-making process for establishing institutional mission and objectives, implementation process, and research needs are highlighted. (MSE)

In 1985, Illinois adopted state legislation supporting school district mergers. In one rural district studied, local opposition to consolidation was based on self-interest, ideologies of localism and traditionalism, and (to a lesser extent) research information. Implications for policymakers and the complexity of the "local control" concept are discussed. (SV)

This paper reviews selected research of the past decade concerning the optimal size of elementary and secondary schools in the United States. By quoting from primary sources, it seeks to present the character, substance, and trend of the school size debate; to identify principal researchers and findings; and to serve as a resource document. Small schools (fewer than 500 students) comprise 62% of U.S. schools and enroll 34% of U.S. students. However, school size is difficult to discuss without considering at least two other dimensions of the education system--class size and school district size. Small class size has become almost synonymous with excellence in education. However, policies that limit class size can result in increases in school size. Consolidation of school districts can also result in larger schools. Recent research indicates that: (1) small schools can be highly effective in providing quality education; (2) large schools may not provide the economies of scale nor the quality of education claimed to justify their largeness; (3) school size tends to be dependent on the influences of class size and district size; (4) school district size is the most significant factor in determining school size; and (5) school size is of particular concern in rural areas, where small schools are prevalent and where proposals for consolidation should be weighed in the context of research findings on the relative effectiveness of small versus large schools. This report contains 30 references. (SV)