Senate Bill 5487 to encourage school consolidation

WENATCHEE – Sen. Brad Hawkins would like to see fewer small districts in the state.

On Monday, Dec. 6, the Wenatchee Republican pre-filed Senate Bill 5487 to entice small school districts to consolidate or merge with larger neighboring districts.

Under his bill, newly formed consolidated or merged districts would receive a 10-year increase in a state assistance formula that provides matching funds for construction, expansion and renovation.

Hawkins, the chairman of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, said he introduced the bill as a way to reduce the cost to educate rural s...