SAD 49 plans to stand alone

Morning Sentinel, August 23, 2007

(excerpt) "A consensus emerged, after looking at all the options, that the existing district configuration made the most sense for these four towns," SAD 49 Superintendent Dean Baker said this week.

The second plan for discussion by the school board is to partner with the town of Winslow, but so far that community has not expressed any interest in joining the Fairfield-based school district.

"The Reorganization Committee has been meeting during August," Baker said. "The state's intent is to have no more than 80-something districts and they are requiring evidence of attempting to achieve financial efficiencies and to investigate the possibility of combining with other districts."

The goal under the state's new school consolidation law is to form school systems with a minimum of 2,500 students, even if it means combining with neighboring districts.

"SAD 49 is in a simpler situation than some districts," Baker said. "We already are large enough to stand alone and there is no immediate neighbor that's expressed an interest in merging with this district.