Gendron: Some schools are hit too hard

Portland Press Herald, October 5, 2007

(excerpts) A change Education Commissioner Susan Gendron says she will recommend to the state Legislature could help overcome cost-sharing barriers to school consolidation.

How costs are shared between consolidating districts is determined by a state formula that factors in student population, property values and other characteristics.

After considering that formula, officials in some school systems -- such as School Administrative District 11, which includes Gardiner, West Gardiner, Pittston and Randolph -- decided not to consolidate with some potential partners because of the cost shifts that would occur if they joined.

For example, if SAD 11 were to consolidate with School Union 44 -- which includes Litchfield, Sabattus and Wales -- SAD 11 taxpayers, largely because of differences in property valuations between the two school systems, would have to pay $800,000 to $1 million more a year, according to Steve Hunnewell, vice chairman of the SAD 11 Board of Directors.

Hunnewell said such cost shifting was the primary obstacle to SAD 11 consolidating with Union 44.

Cost shifts were also an issue in discussions between SAD 11 and Augusta schools, although state and Augusta officials have disputed how much the shift would be and how greatly it would affect Augusta taxpayers.