Although 1951-1966 marked 15 of the most dynamic, hectic, painful, and questionable years of Iowa school district reorganization, 28 school district reorganizations have come about in the succeeding 15 years without a state law or Department of Public Instruction regulation mandating the elimination of certain kinds or sizes of local school…

This field study of a small midwestern town undergoing development suggests that external resources (such as state and federal aid) do not necessarily diminish local decision making if the community has shared values, conflict resolution mechanisms, local issues, and healthy social networks. (SK)