Monday’s vote by the Raymond and Windham school department representatives not to join with the Westbrook School Department may have stunned Westbrook Superintendent Stan Sawyer, but it can be thought more perplexing that the three districts considered the idea when there was no requirement to do so.

The Windham and Westbrook school departments, each with more than 2,500 students, are allowed to remain independent in the reorganization law passed by the Maine Legislature last June. With less than 2,500 students, the Raymond School District must either consolidate, likely with Windham’s, or gain approval from the Maine Department of Education to remain independent.

Yet members of the school boards and appointed committees made a commendable investigation of whether a wider merger would save money for each district’s taxpayers. It was hard work, and those who did it knew it wasn’t legally required.

Unlike those in school administrative districts 55, 61 and 72 covering an area from Casco to Fryeburg to Parsonsfield, the Westbrook and Windham school boards did not have to justify to the Maine Department of Education, which administers the reduction of school districts from 290 to 80, why independence was the best course.

Like the boards and reorganization committees in SADs 55, 61 and 72, who voted to remain independent, school board members in Raymond and Windham saw no substantial savings and even increased initial costs to taxpayers by joining with the Westbrook School District. Raymond and Windham will likely join together.

Sawyer disagreed, but the decision made by the Raymond and Windham school departments is not permanent. The wisdom of the larger districts remaining separate while confronting reductions of state subsidies of 50 percent in administrative costs and 5 percent in transportation, special education and facilities and maintenance is good.

Whether because of questions about how to combine teacher pay, transportation costs or create a new school board, hesitancy to consolidate, if not required to do so, is justifiable. Meeting the state mandates will be daunting enough for individual districts.

Monday’s vote against merging with the Westbrook School District does not mean consolidation will never happen, or that the savings Sawyer believes exist may not develop. It does mean that navigating choppy seas caused by the most extensive educational reform in more than 50 years remains easier.

It is better to avoid local shoals and try to meet the intent of the law to save taxpayers money and let legislative changes to the act take place before effectively doubling the size of a school district and then tackling the state-mandated spending reductions.

Thanks, Michael

This week will be the last that Windham resident Michael Shaughnessy contributes his “Far and Wide” column. In the column, he explains why he cannot continue and thanks Lakes Region Weekly readers and editors for responses and encouragement. As he embarks on a campaign for the Maine Legislature, he is practicing the concepts and thoughts he expressed that made the paper more vibrant and he will be missed.

To replace Shaughnessy, the Lakes Region Weekly welcomes readers looking to contribute every week, two weeks or every month. Please call 892-1166 or e-mail dharry@keepmecurrrent.com if interested.

David Harry, editor