Topeka ? Rep. William Mason rolled a political hand grenade Monday into the House Education Committee room.

And fellow committee members agreed they would consider his potentially explosive plan for consolidating Kansas school districts.

Mason, an El Dorado Republican, said he doubted his plan to limit most Kansas counties to one school district would win approval. But, he said, as lawmakers search for funds for public schools, they must find ways to save administrative expenses and plow that money back into teaching students.

“The one purpose would be to get those dollars into the classroom,” Mason said. “We need to have this debate.”

The committee agreed to introduce Mason’s legislation. In Douglas County, it could mean consolidating all or parts of three districts Lawrence, Eudora and Baldwin.

“We’re going to have some exciting days ahead of us,” said Rep. Bill Reardon, D-Kansas City, a committee member.

With state coffers tightening, lawmakers are considering proposals that range from cutting funds to public schools to giving them a nominal increase.

Mason’s proposal has not been put into written form yet. But he said consolidating all school districts in a county would trim the number of school districts there are 304 by about two-thirds. Kansas has 105 counties.

It’s been decades since the last serious wave of school district consolidations. Lawmakers know eliminating districts is political dynamite because of the vital roles schools play in communities, particularly in declining rural areas.

Mason said consolidation would result in large savings by reducing administrative overhead, but he did not have an estimate of how much would be saved.

The provision would exempt Johnson and Sedgwick counties because they are so populous, he said, and would probably exempt multi-county school districts.

Education Committee Chairman Ralph Tanner, R-Baldwin, wasn’t enthusiastic about Mason’s proposal, saying consolidation “is such a complex and convoluted subject.”

But Tanner said he expected the committee to have a public hearing on the bill.

Mason acknowledged that the idea of consolidating school districts is politically unpopular but said recent studies show the state should consider it. A consultant’s study issued last year suggested reducing the number of districts statewide to 255. It did not recommend merging Douglas County school districts.

The report by Denver-based Augenblick & Myers was shelved by the Legislature.

A state audit last year indicated that Kansas spent more on school administrative expenses than surrounding states.

“The study showed we are high in the cost of administration. We could save significant dollars through consolidation,” Mason said, noting that his home county, Butler, has nine school districts.

Staff writer Scott Rothschild can be reached at (785) 354-4222.