Rural districts ponder school merger plan

Morning Sentinel, August 24, 2007

(excerpt) Kenneth Smith, superintendent of SAD 13, in Bingham, said most combinations he could find between his districts and other, larger systems, would result in the larger districts paying more.

That's a problem because voters in the larger districts have no incentive to join, said Smith.

"Our costs are greatly reduced, while their costs are greatly increased, so why would they want to join us?" he asked.

Smith said his school district, along with two other small, isolated school systems -- SAD 12 in Jackman and School Union 60 in Greenville -- believe they could find the savings called for by the state by joining forces -- although they would not be anywhere near the 2,500-student goal. SAD 12 and SAD 13 would not see a big change in their education costs under that combination, but Greenville would lose money.