METRO II, a regional metropolitan computer consortium, was developed to provide for joint computer services in five school districts with a combined population of 150,000 students. To effect this consortium approach, each of the districts, already with sophisticated EDP, must analyze current systems and project its anticipated needs to fit the new, regional METRO II effort. In turn METRO II must align with the statewide MECC (Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium) design. There is obvious difficulty solving and resolving problems with equipment, software, and people. However, changing technologies and more sophisticated MIS would seem to preclude the founding dictum: equal or better service for no greater cost. Greater cost may be justified if more cost-effective utilization of computerized MIS occurs in administrative decision-making and services are enhanced. This appears to be happening with METRO II. (Author/VT)