The Legislature is expected to consider changes to the state’s school administration consolidation law this week. In debating LD 1932, lawmakers must remain focused on changes that remove impediments to consolidation while not opening so many loopholes that the goals of streamlining administration, saving money and improving classroom instruction are lost.

LD 1932 began as a way to remove barriers that many districts said kept them from cooperating. The bill, which was approved by a 10-3 vote in the Education Committee last month, would allow local cost-sharing agreements, retain minimum subsidies for districts that reorganize, and eliminate a minimum subsidy provision. This eases concerns voiced by many districts as they contemplated consolidation.

The bill would also change the language to be included in local referendum votes on consolidation plans to remove from the ballot reference to the penalties that would result if a consolidation plan is rejected. While it is understandable that some worried that the penalty language could bias voters in favor of a plan, it made sense to ensure voters were aware of the consequences of a negative tally.

When the bill comes to the full Legislature, an amendment to allow the continuation of school union-type governance is expected. This unnecessarily perpetuates an inefficient form of school district management that would duplicate and complicate the work of the regional school units required by the law.

As the debates continue, legislators must keep in mind the reasons it was broadly supported last year as part of the state budget. Primary among these reasons is the amount of school funding the state and communities can afford to contribute to schools. Maine has one of the most expensive school systems, per pupil, in the nation, with an inordinate amount going to district level administration.

The number of students in Maine schools has declined by more than 30,000 since the 1980s, while the number of school divisions and administrators has increased. Maine now has 290 school districts and 152 superintendents.

Deciding this was not sustainable, lawmakers, after years of study and numerous reports calling for a major reduction in the number of school districts in Maine, passed a consolidation plan that aims to merge the districts into a maximum of 80.

The more exceptions that are written into law, the less likely it is that the new districts will operate as intended, and many of the efficiency gains could be lost.

Removing barriers to consolidation will improve the reorganization law. Codifying the status quo will not.