ORONO – Some towns, such as Orono, Veazie and Old Town, are trying to get a jump on determining their options under the state’s newly mandated school reorganization plan.

Union 87 Superintendent Kelly Clenchy oversees Orono and Veazie schools, and said Tuesday that his main focus right now is making sure that each community has similar representation as they begin to move forward with developing reorganization committees.

“I think that it’s imperative that we have a similar structure so that when we do come together as districts, it’s equitable for all these different communities,” Clenchy said Tuesday.

The consolidation process has a tight timeline, but Clenchy wants to ensure the public that there will be time for them to provide input.

“We need to get something going quickly so that we can meet with our communities,” Clenchy said.

The effort to reorganize Maine’s 152 school administrative systems into 80 regional school units was signed into law in early June and by Aug. 31, each school unit must file a notice with the commissioner of its intent to engage in planning and negotiations with other schools.

“I think right now what we’re trying to do is take a look at the original proposal that the commissioner released in terms of configuration for school districts, and start out talking to those areas,” Clenchy said Tuesday. “We plan to sit down with Old Town and Union 90, and Glenburn has asked to talk to us.”

Under the State Department of Education’s recommendation, Orono, Old Town and Union 90, which includes Alton, Bradley, Greenbush and Milford, would combine to form a regional school unit.

“I’m of the opinion we need to explore every and all options in the best interest of the community, whatever that may be,” Veazie councilor Rod Hathaway said Tuesday. Hathaway and Councilor Joe Friedman have been selected to represent the council on the town’s regionalization committee.

“I think the first and foremost fact is that we as a town need to be better educated in what our options are and it ultimately may be the direction we go in,” Hathaway said. “Until we sit together and discuss the educational and financial aspects of it, I don’t think we’re in a position to make that decision yet.”

He added that there is some advantage to picking your partners early.

As for Glenburn, the town may go against the state’s recommendation that they join with Hudson, Kenduskeag, Stetson, Corinth and Bradford.

Glenburn was not part of the recommended regional unit that included Orono and Veazie, Clenchy said. “[They were] going somewhere else, but asked to meet with us.”

By Dec. 1, each school unit must submit its reorganization plan or alternative plan to the commissioner, who then will approve or return it by Dec. 15.

Municipal referendums then will be held by Jan. 15, 2008, with plans received or revised after Dec. 15, 2007, having to go to a municipal vote by June 10, 2008.

In school units where voters reject the reorganization plan at referendum, communities will have until Nov. 4, 2008, to create a new proposal for reorganization and hold a referendum vote. Units not approving a plan by this date will be subject to the penalties.

“We have another year if we can’t come to agreement, so it’s not as if we have to be regionalized by July 1, 2008,” Clenchy said. “If we’re going to do it, we want to be true to the process obviously and be as efficient as we can.”