FARMINGTON -- There could be some dark days ahead for Maine schools, officials say.

This past week, the Mt. Blue Regional School District's board of directors learned that the Maine Department of Education anticipates a reduction of $38 million for public schools between now and June.

"That translates to $310,000 to $320,000 reduction in school funding for this system," Superintendent Michael Cormier said.

That's just the beginning, he said, because there's an anticipated $92 million shortfall in 2010-11 and a $151 million shortfall for 2011-12.

The figures aren't official until the Legislature meets in January to adjust this year's state budget, but Cormier suggested the sooner the district plans to deal with the situation, the easier it will be to find savings and avoid layoffs.

"I would like to propose to the board that the finance committee meet with me to discuss some possible ways to deal with this between now and June," he said. "We'll take a look at what we do have left."

Administrators already have started that process, but the board needs to join them immediately to plan a strategy for dealing with the cuts ahead, Cormier said.

Cormier noted that all financial numbers were estimates at this point, but that the district could anticipate a reduction in subsidy of $310,000 to $320,000 for the fiscal year ending in June.

Since much of the two-year funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will have dried up, the Mt. Blue RSD can only hope the economy rebounds to keep the local tax burden low, he said. Much of the federal money that comes to Maine each year has a list of spending restrictions, and if schools don't conform to guidelines, that money could be withheld.

In other news, the Mt. Blue High School girls cross country team qualified for the 75th New England Cross Country Championship Meet on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Manchester, Conn. Students Melody Lam, Addie Cullenberg, Gwen Beacham, Louisa Stancioff, Shelby Aseltine, Amy Hilton, and Emily Reed will represent the district.

They placed third overall in Class A at the State Championship Meet in Cumberland on Saturday, Nov. 7 and finished as the fourth-best team. Board members applauded the historic event and approved a plan to attend the weekend competition.