Some small school systems face consolidation challenge

AUGUSTA – School consolidation may be happening at a steady pace for some regional groups, but a number of small school systems continue to grapple with finding partners.

Commissioner of Education Susan A. Gendron told the Joint Committee for Education and Cultural Affairs last week that while most of the state’s schools were working toward reorganizing into larger units, 13 regions had proposed plans calling for districts with fewer than the 1,200 minimum students required by law.

She said the department received 63 plans for regional school units of 1,200 students or more.

The reorganization plans submitted to the department do not provide the exact details of how each unit intends to design its new structure. Instead of details, the plans provide the department with a checklist of each unit’s progress to date.

“Most of the plans have sections that are complete or have a progress report,” Gendron told the committee.

She noted that RSU 1, consisting of communities in the Bath area, is the only regional school unit to consolidate and win the approval of its voters. Regions are required by law to vote on their units by the end of January.

Gendron told the committee that the department was prepared to “provide assistance” to the 13 units that fall outside the law and convince them that they need to do more to accommodate consolidation. She said she was prepared to inform the smaller units that while they do not comply, the department was willing to work with them and ready to provide guidance.

She said that while the law gives those schools 30 days to correct the problems, she decided to “give them a little bit of a window” for the holidays and extend the deadline to Feb. 1.

“We are giving them a little flexibility,” Gendron said. “What we are seeing is that people are trying to make it work and they’re also being realistic.”

When questioned about the viability of reorganized school units with demographic projections that populations in that region could decline, Gendron said the “law is silent” on what would happen if schools dropped below 1,200 students in the future. She said the department was urging the regional planning committees to plan 10 years into the future.

Gendron acknowledged that “the bulge of students” was in the high schools and that student population in the lower grades was in decline. Whereas 17,000 students graduated high school in Maine this year, just 12,000 enrolled in kindergarten. She said communities have to take that reality into consideration when forming their regional schools.

In response to a question about the department’s efforts in bringing communities together, Gendron replied that “in some instances we’ve been out there brokering to bring those communities together. … We don’t give up, we keep trying to find the right solution.”

Union 60, which is composed of Greenville, Beaver Cove, Kingsbury Plantation, Shirley and Willimantic, is one of those that have been stymied by the consolidation process.

Superintendent of Schools Heather Perry said last week that her group spent more time “just talking to potential partners” than putting together a plan.

Perry said her regional planning committee has held discussions with nine School Administrative Districts since June but was unable to put a region together. She said the committee was talking with SAD 68 in Dover-Foxcroft but at the same time Willimantic was leaning toward joining with SAD 4 in Guilford and SAD 46 in Dexter.

Perry pointed out that all of the communities are receivers of minimum state subsidy and despite claims that consolidation would save money, it appeared to be unlikely with those towns. She said all the towns recognize the need for greater efficiencies, but that officials doubt they could be found through consolidation. Perry predicted that if a vote were taken now, the towns would opt out of consolidation.

“It’s very chaotic and people are getting frustrated at this point,” Perry said. “In rural Piscataquis County it’s not realistic. It doesn’t fit there. They see the need for efficiencies but it’s not working for them.”