Districts in El Dorado County, Calif., look at benefits of consolidation

From The Sacramento Bee: Faced with mounting deficits, school districts in El Dorado County, Calif., are considering a number of consolidation scenarios that would save administrative costs and qualify them for millions of dollars of additional state aid. Merging districts is promoted by some as an antidote to budget deficits, but others say it offers false hope. But, in California, where school districts have lost $18 billion in state aid in three years, the appeal of the added state dollars that come with consolidation have school districts taking a serious look.