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07/08/2008
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Staff photo by David LeamingSchool Administrative District 47 and School Union 52 are looking to consolidate to become one of those new RSUs.
And that's why more than a dozen officials from six of the seven communities involved (Rome was not represented), both school and municipal, met Monday at the SAD 47 superintendent's office.
They know time is short.
What also became apparent at Monday's meeting is many decisions -- and difficult ones at that -- must still be made.
"We've already passed the deadline for submitting the plan," Union 52 Assistant Superintendent Gary Smith said, "if you believe the timetable."
That Department of Education timetable calls for regional planning committees to submit an alternative plan, updated plan or status report June 13, which makes SAD 47 and Union 52 about three weeks late.
"Today," SAD 47 Superintendent James C. Morse Sr. said as the meeting opened, "we're here to see if we can come to an agreement on what financially makes most sense (for the RSU)."
Morse later explained, however, that any agreements they reach must then be brought in front of the entire regional planning committee to approve.
Then whatever plan the larger committee OKs must go before voters in the seven participating communities by no later than Jan. 30.
Much to do, so little time.
That could have been the meeting's theme, at least in the opening two hours.
Smith spent much of the morning describing the major issues and financial impact on each of the seven communities based on numerous options and scenarios.
Those issues include how to deal with local debt, school choice and teacher salaries and benefits.
None of those concerns, Smith made plain, are easy to resolve.
On local debt, for instance, Winslow has $6 million to retire on its recently renovated high school.
In one of the options Smith described, each of the RSU towns would be responsible for its own local debt.
But, Smith asked, what happens in the future if a new school is needed in one of the RSU towns? Is that the individual town's responsibility, or the responsibility of the RSU?
Another complicating factor in the consolidation proposal is Erskine Academy in South China.
As a private, independent high school, Erskine Academy would not be considered an RSU school.
But students in China and Vassalboro have school choice and many of them attend Erskine Academy.
School officials at the meeting discussed who should pay the cost of busing students to Erskine.
One of the prominent local school systems not at the table Monday was Waterville.
But Waterville, which last fall pulled out of consolidation talks with SAD 47 and Union 52, was a major topic of conversation.
More specifically, the talk concerned Waterville's recent request, in the form of a letter from Superintendent Eric L. Haley, to rejoin consolidation talks.
Morse, though, said Waterville specified it would only consider being part of the RSU if doing so caused it no negative financial impact.
Hugh Riordan, interim superintendent in Union 52, said his union board did not care for those terms.
"The message (from Union 52)," he said, "was welcome back, but there are no guarantees that there will not be some additional costs."
Morse said he has not met formally with his board on the Waterville request, but said he is confident SAD 47 would share Union 52's opinion.
For now, then, SAD 47 and Union 52 appear the only partners in this local consolidation dance.
What remains to be seen is whether the two can overcome their challenges and become one.
Colin Hickey -- 861-9205
chickey@centralmaine.com
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