Schools pursue push to combine School Union 113, Millinocket chiefs plan public forum

MEDWAY – Two area school superintendents will meet Nov. 13 to begin the process of developing a range of curriculum and budget options for a proposed new area school district.

Sandra MacArthur, the superintendent of School Union 113 (East Millinocket, Medway and Woodville), and Brent Colbry, Millinocket’s superintendent, agreed the meeting will be the first of many in what they describe as a long process that could take several months.

Colbry and MacArthur first will review the model school district report prepared by Dr. Walter McIntire of Portland, an education consultant, and will map out a strategy for building curriculum and budget scenarios.

Both said they would use this year’s enrollments and curriculum as a base and then will develop other expanded curriculum and budget scenarios.

Members of four area school boards met this week with a committee studying area school consolidation. School officials agreed to move forward by having the two school superintendents further develop the proposed school district model.

The consensus of the four boards reaffirmed action taken last month by members of the study committee, who said the current model plan did not give area residents a complete picture of educational opportunities for students and the effect a new school district would have on local taxes.

At the meeting this week, Colbry asked what officials would do once the additional information was prepared.

Donald Hendsbee, chairman of the East Millinocket School Board, said he expects several public forums would be held within the communities and ultimately residents would be asked to vote on a proposal.

Colbry suggested a nonbinding referendum be held in the communities. He said that vote would not be the final one.

While members of the school boards agreed to move forward in developing the plan, some expressed mixed views about the proposed model school district.

Some members admitted they were not convinced the current model was the best way to go, while others expressed concern about the quality of education in the future in light of projected declining student enrollments.

Larry MacKenzie, an East Millinocket board member, said he has heard horror stories about some small towns that are part of a school district. He said state lawmakers needed to change the structure of school districts. “If they want schools to consolidate and regionalize, they will have to come up with something better than giving power of attorney to the bigger towns,” MacKenzie said. “When you have that power, you run the school system.” Earlier, officials said the population of each community determines their representation on a school district board.

Jayne Bartley, chairman of the Millinocket School Board, said the school district would share all of the current debt held by the individual schools, but the district also would share the debt for any new school projects, such as improvements to the Medway Middle School.

“I think if we are going to preserve the education for the children in this area, we have got to combine,” she said.

Several residents said they are pleased that school officials are moving forward to further develop the school district plan.