Poll Shows Arkansans` Views On Consolidation

A new poll show Arkansas residents are closely divided on whether the state should consolidate its smaller school districts. The poll was taken by Opinion Research Associates Incorporated of Little Rock for the Stephens Media Group. The survey shows 47 percent of the respondents favored consolidation while 43 percent generally opposed combining schools. The poll`s margin of error was four-point-five percentage points. Those with college educations and well-paying white collar jobs in urban areas overwhelmingly supported consolidation. Those with low-wage blue collar jobs in rural areas and those with only a high school education or less ran strongly against it. Consolidation also was more popular among Republicans and central Arkansans. There was little difference by race or gender. ------ Opinion Research conducted telephone interviews with 500 Arkansans -- 125 registered voters in each of the state`s four congressional districts -- Thursday through Monday. Posted by Mike Hellgren