Greenway Schools Superintendent Rochelle VanDenHeuvel has been named the new superintendent of the Virginia School District on the East Central Iron Range (Mesabi Daily News). Greenway, serving Coleraine, Bovey, Marble and Taconite on the western Mesabi Range, is one of the most financially troubled districts on the Range. The departure of its superintendent is likely to fuel either confusion or desire for the district to consolidate with one or more of its neighbors. VanDenHeuvel enters a new district where there have also been informal discussions of consolidation with Mt. Iron-Buhl. In any event, she has secured a more stable assignment to be sure.
Strategic school district consolidation is about the only real tool left in the box for Iron Range officials to weather the educational budget crunch that will likely worsen over the next few years. Beyond that, it’s up to state leaders to figure out a school funding formula that allows equal educational opportunity in all corners of the state. But you won’t get the latter until you complete the former.
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