There were always two main reasons to consider closing high school buildings in Youngsville and Sheffield – money and quality of education.

The budget proposed by Warren County School District staff last week accomplishes one of those two goals. Taxes won’t increase as part of next year’s budget, though spending in the $93.86 plan increases by $2.29 million. That’s what additional aid and saving $1.7 million will do for a budget. The $1.7 million saved by closing the schools equates to 3.82 mills that don’t have to be raised on the backs of property owners in the county.

The consolidation has accomplished what was hoped. The school budget is much more certain than it has been for quite some time. We aren’t looking at program cuts. We aren’t further dipping into the district’s already shaky surplus.

Of course, there is another goal to be accomplished with the closure of two high schools that we won’t know has been accomplished for quite some time. District officials have touted increased course offerings and ability to offer more advanced level courses to more students. Everything looks good on paper – but life doesn’t happen on paper.

It was important that this budget came in with no tax increase. There had to be a payoff for the painful discussions that took place over the past year. It’s equally important that students see the same sort of benefits in the quality of the classes and extracurriculars they have access to next year, too.

As we’ve said throughout the process, cost savings alone aren’t enough reasons to close schools. The quality of our education has to be better, too. Only then will school consolidation be considered a successful endeavor.