| Opponents of school consolidation often argue that when a community loses a high school the community dies a slow death. This paper compares the actual effects of losing or retaining a high school through consolidation to the perceived effects. The actual effects were measured by gathering data on seven indicators. These indicators were: (a) population, (b) per capita income, (c) retail sales, (d) number of retail businesses, (e) pull factor, (f) property taxes, and (g) property valuations. Perceived effects were measured by gathering information from 180 phone surveys conducted with people in nine Nebraska communities that had recently consolidated These respondents were asked if they felt a change had occurred in each of the seven indicators and whether they felt the change was due to consolidation.; Actual data indicated only one indicator, per capita income, had a significant change from the time before consolidation to the time after. However, respondents perceived a significant difference in five indicators. These indicators were: population, retail sales, number of retail businesses, pull factor, and property valuations.; Communities considering consolidation should look at actual historical data from the community to determine the viability and health of the community as it currently is and compare that to the historical data from the previous 5, 10, and 20 years. Additionally, pre and post consolidation data from communities that have already consolidated could allow communities to project possible outcomes for the future of the communities should they consolidate. Further research should be conducted by replicating this study in communities in different geographic regions within the State of Nebraska or by considering the effects of second-generation consolidation on the communities involved. |
