Lexington County schools are not a target – yet.

But school reformers are looking for ways to lower what they call staggering costs and lift the state out of the education cellar.

This year, the last 3 Orangeburg County districts will become 1, a merger of administrations but not schools, The State newspaper reported this week.

Orangeburg voters elected a new school board to hire an interim superintendent to oversee the merger.

Districts in poor, rural areas, may face mergers as state lawmakers aim to redirect dollars from administration to classrooms.

State lawmakers told the Chronicle at a SC Press Association briefing this month that school reform is their top priority this session.

They once again are debating whether to force districts with shrinking enrollment to merge more services with other districts.

Lexington County once had 88 districts – one for every 2-room schoolhouse.

County leaders for years have eyed merging 2 smaller districts with neighbors. This would combine:

• District 4 in Gaston and Swansea with District 2 in Cayce and West Columbia.

• District 3 in Batesburg-Leesville with District 1 in Lexington, Gilbert, Pelion and White Knoll.

Lexington-Richland 5 in Chapin and Irmo would not be affected.

A District 1 study more than 20 years ago concluded that the mergers would result in lowering few costs.

Foes see merger as making districts larger and less responsive to local voters.

Growing counties with multiple school districts including Lexington are not being targeted by the merger push, The State reported.

Gov. Henry McMaster and two key Republican lawmakers asked Revenue and Fiscal Affairs chief Frank Rainwater to find a financing formula to encourage neighboring districts to merge or share services.

State Senate Bill 203 will require districts with fewer than 1,500 students to merge in 2 school years.

Florence Districts 1 and 2 saved District 4 about $600,000 last year, cutting administrative costs, state Superintendent Molly Spearman said.

Spearman called Bill 203 “emotional” due to a “deep love” communities have for their schools.