The school district puzzle

Portland Press Herald, May 7, 2007

(excerpt) Some school districts say that so far they have not been able to find out how the Appropriations Committee's plan will save them money. Gary MacDonald, superintendent of SAD 72, which includes Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Lovell, Stoneham, Stow and Sweden, met with administrators at SAD 61, which includes Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago, and SAD 55, which includes Baldwin, Hiram, Cornish, Parsonsfield and Porter.

"We went into this to show how we can make this work," MacDonald said.

After looking at what it would take to administer their combined $60 million budgets, 4,800 students and 1,000 employees, MacDonald said, the school officials determined that the savings from being able to merge business and other functions were offset by the new positions they would need, such as a full-time curriculum director or a full-time coordinator for federal programs, tasks now filled by administrators who do them in addition to other duties.

He said the districts share different educational philosophies. SAD 61 spends more money, for example. "The question becomes, would the level of services be raised to meet that district or lowered to meet the other districts?" MacDonald said.

Other district officials, including Cape Elizabeth's school committee, say they have nothing to gain from consolidation.

"They are very much opposed to what is going on. There is a very strong feeling that we are being very economical in funding anyway," said Alan Hawkins, superintendent of Cape Elizabeth schools.