Economic development investments in Ohio should be focused on cities, a report by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program and the Greater Ohio Policy Center recommends. That comes as no surprise.
But buried in a long list of suggestions to improve urban economies in Ohio is one that should be of interest to Buckeye State residents in our area. It is that the number of school districts in the state should be reduced by at least one-third.
We agree. We have argued for years that Ohio's system of public education, with more than 600 school districts in 88 counties, is unwieldy. Reducing the number of districts - and having the remaining ones do a better job of sharing services, as the report also recommends - would make public education more efficient and effective. It also could reduce costs.
Consolidating school districts is not a new idea. It never seems to gain much traction in the General Assembly, however, simply because it is controversial. No politician wants to touch an issue guaranteed to anger a substantial number of constituents.
But as the report emphasizes, structural reform in public education is essential in Ohio. Legislators and Gov. Ted Strickland should address education concerns - including consolidation - cited in the report. They should not delay doing so simply because this is an election year.