This past Friday New Jersey School Boards Association hosted a conference in conjunction with the Policy Research Institute for the Region at Princeton University called “The E in Thorough and Efficient: How we can insure Efficiency in Spending School Tax Dollars.” The main topic was consolidation of school districts and included a panel discussion with Ernest Reock, professor emeritus from Rutgers University, Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, chairman of the education committee, Michael Ritacco, superintendent of the Toms River School District and Gerald Vernotica, assistant commissioner for field services at the state Education Department.

So, what’s the consensus on the value of consolidation? According to the Trenton Times, NJSBA spokesman Frank Belluscio said,

School district consolidation is not the cure-all for high property taxes that some claim.

Then again, the audience included board members from Princeton, one of whom thought the conclusions reached were “brilliant, absolutely brilliant.” We guess Princeton is not eager to consolidate services with neighboring districts like Trenton.