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RACE TO THE UNKNOWN TO MERGE STATE EDUCATION BOARDS
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| RACE TO THE UNKNOWN
TO MERGE STATE EDUCATION BOARDS
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| Missouri, April 19, 2010
 Recently, under the leadership of president pro tem Charlie Shields, the Missouri Senate passed a resolution that if approved by voters would merge Missouri’s Coordinating Board of Higher Education and the state’s Board of Education into one six-member board. Senators were told that such a merger will save Missouri between $1 million and $3 million, a minuscule amount compared to a state budget that is in the billions.
What the proposal lacks are details on how such a merger will improve the delivery of educational services in Missouri to students from pre-school through college. This state constitutional amendment and its accompanying legislation contain virtually no structural changes to a system of education that admittedly is in need of upgrades at all levels.
In order to make such a drastic change to educational governance in our state, a comprehensive study should be done that would involve all stakeholders. The current, hurried approach has the potential for unintended, negative consequences.
This is not to say that the ‘status quo’ in public education in Missouri is the way to go. Actually, there are many positive changes that can be made to the existing system. Other states are far ahead of Missouri in education reform, and their successful practices could be implemented here.
Change for the sake of change, however, rarely results in good outcomes. Instead, shouldn’t we slow down, study the situation and ask what we might do to craft a world-class educational system for Missouri’s students?
If merging these two boards would enhance such a goal, it should be done as soon as possible. A persuasive case for this proposed merger, however, has yet to be made.
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Joe Knodell is state coordinator for the Missouri Education Reform Council.
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The Missouri
Education Roundatable Council’s mission is to promote improvement in
Missouri’s K-12 educational system, including increasing performance,
accountability and transparency. For more information and future updates visit: www.moeducationreform.org.
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