BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF

Vassalboro wants to explore whether going back to the future will satisfy the state-mandated school consolidation initiative.

Lori Fowle, chairman of the Vassalboro School Committee, sees reforming the School Union 52 towns of Vassalboro, Winslow and China as a regional school unit (RSU) as a reasonable -- and possibly preferable -- option to the eight-community RSU once planned.

That larger school system combined Union 52 with Waterville and the four towns of School Administrative District 47 (Oakland, Belgrade, Sidney, Rome).

But Waterville already has pulled out of the proposed RSU and even SAD 47 has kept open the option of remaining a four-town school unit.

"I think early on it was something we wanted to do," Fowle said of sticking exclusively with Winslow and China, "but we didn't know what the cost factors were."

Fowle, however, said she and the rest of her board now have a better understanding of the costs and see reforming Union 52 as an RSU as a viable option.

"We meet the criteria of an RSU," she said, "as far as our student population and that we have a high school."

Fowle said her board is ready to consider that option as long as Winslow and China school officials are agreeable.

To determine whether that willingness exists, Fowle plans to meet with both boards, starting with the Winslow school board Monday night -- a date with China has yet to be set.

Hugh Riordan, Union 52's interim superintendent, supports exploring the possibility.

"We feel we can achieve the required efficiencies with the three towns," he said, "just as we can with the larger unit with (SAD 47). There are still a lot of unknowns. This just provides another option, and it's prudent to examine (the option) and see what makes sense."

China School Board Chairman Charlie Clark, however, is more skeptical about reforming Union 52 as an RSU.

"I can't speak for the (China school) board," he said, "but for myself it is an option that has always been open, but it doesn't have any potential savings in it, because it is basically the structure we have now."

Clark, moreover, said he still believes the state might force Waterville to reconsider its move to pull out of the proposed eight-community RSU.

"Until the Waterville issue is decided," he said, "it's kind of premature to pull out of the group that we are in."

Fowle makes clear, though, that examining a newfangled version of Union 52 simply puts an option B on the table.

Riordan shares that point of view.

"Her thinking is not to bail from our talks with (SAD 47)," he said, "but just to take some time to establish a planning committee for the three towns in parallel with the study group going on with (SAD 47). I think much of the work that has been done with the larger committee can be drawn upon and utilized by the smaller group."

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com