School District Consolidation Educators and experts on rural school administration debated the pros and cons of consolidating small and rural schools districts. The event began with an overview of a Center for American Progress report on the costs associated with consolidation efforts. The panel then addressed an array of topics including the influence of poverty, location, and economics on schools districts. Other topics included use of technology in rural schools, the influence of political will, and race and socio-economics with school consolidation. Speakers focused on such areas as New Jersey, North Carolina, and Tennessee schools. close