Consolidation is the four-letter word to small rural schools in Kansas. During the early 1950s, Kansas had more than 1,000 school district. We had a "consolidation" move to trim the number down to a few more than 300. Now we have fewer than 300 school districts.

Many are trying to cut the number of school districts even more. We passed incentives for districts to "consolidate," and some have taken advantage of the incentives.

In our budget crunch, some have proposed to reduce the number of districts to 125 or even fewer. Some proposals would force certain students to be on a school bus for more than two hours each way from home. Savings in school building costs likely would be eaten up by transportation costs.

Legislative Post Audit has presented a proposal to increase class sizes to 31 or more and to close many of our schools in Kansas.

I know that local schools are often the lifeblood of our rural communities. More importantly, I believe that the small class sizes in rural districts are directly responsible for better test scores, higher graduation rates and better results after high school. The small amount of savings possible by closing certain schools is outweighed by the decline in education opportunity for children who need individual attention whether gifted or challenged.

It is our responsibility in Kansas to invest in all schools whether they are in Blue Valley, Hays or Brewster. It should not be the state's responsibility to pick and choose which schools are going to do well under consolidation.

The Schools for Fair Funding advocates won in 2005 not by shifting funding from the small schools or the suburban districts.

Our mantra was "do no harm" while we accomplished good, fair funding for our districts. Since we experienced so many years of inadequate and inequitable state funding, there would be no satisfaction in harming other districts.

If public school advocates fail to stick together, we all lose. Pitting districts against each other will only be a deterrent from our common aim -- the opportunity for every child in Kansas to receive an excellent education, a chance to reach full potential and hope for the American dream.

We need to keep the incentives alive for local school boards who want to consider joining forces without jeopardizing education opportunities.

Combining buildings/districts in order to economize and provide greater opportunities for our students should be encouraged, not mandated.

Local schools form the backbones of our communities, and any plan to consolidate should be a local decision.

Eber Phelps represents the 111th House District.

eber.phelps@house.ks.gov