School board members at School Administrative District 15 are in limbo this week, waiting for a decision about the future of district.

School Union 29, which planned to consolidate with SAD 15, sent a letter of intent Dec. 1, 2007, to remain independent at the same time the two districts submitted an application showing how they would cut costs by consolidating in December.

A decision by the Maine Department of Education on the plan is expected Feb. 1.

SAD 15, covering Gray and New Gloucester, spent the fall meeting with members of School Union 29 school board, which represents the towns of Poland, Minot, and Mechanic Falls.

After making positive connections between the two districts, SAD 15 board members were surprised to learn that Union 29 was still looking to remain an independent school district.

At the same time, the districts submitted a consolidation plan together, showing how they would cut costs by combining administrations.

“The fact that they sent in a letter and didn’t copy us on it is discouraging,” said Sharon Vandermay, a SAD 15 board member.

School district consolidation is required by a law passed by the Legislature in June 2007 requiring 290 Maine school districts to merge into 80 units. The education department is required to carry out the plan, which also requires saving 50 percent in administrative costs and 5 percent in transportation, special education and facilities and maintenance.

The law says the state is to have no more than 80 school districts statewide, with at least 2,500 students each unless exceptions are granted. Both districts would be required to create the same savings should they remain independent.

The consolidation plan submitted by SAD 15 and School Union 29 in December was, like most plans submitted in Maine, incomplete. The commissioner has directed school districts to submit complete plans by March 28.

Dennis Duquetter, superintendent of School Union 29, said the intent of both his district, and SAD 15, was to remain independent all along. He said that throughout the meetings between the districts last fall, officials from both sides made it clear that they would rather remain independent.

“They were very vocal at meetings, saying that they would rather stand alone,” said Duquette.

School Union 29 submitted a letter of intent last August to remain independent. The commissioner of education denied the request, and consolidation meetings with SAD 15 followed. Duquette said a lot has changed since August, and that Union 29 has found ways to cut costs.

Another Lakes Region school district, SAD 61, was approved to remain an independent school district with conditions on Dec. 14, 2007. SAD 61 must submit a plan showing additional cost cuts by March 28.

Duquette said he was directed by the School Union 29 school board to send a letter of intent to remain independent at the same meeting the board approved consolidation plans for Dec. 1. He said he did not have time to inform members of the SAD 15 board, and can understand why the revelation upset board members.

“It was never openly discussed,” said Duquette. “I’m just stuck between three towns that are extremely independent…when they tell me to do something, I can’t just tell them no,” said Duquette.

Although he was surprised by the move, Alan Rich, SAD 15 chairman, said he can empathize with School Union 29’s desire to remain independent.

Gray and New Gloucester taxpayers have a lot to lose if SAD 15 joins forces with School Union 29. Consolidation would raise taxes by $1.5 million in Gray and New Gloucester. Also, teachers are paid differently in each district. With five towns affected by the consolidation, Rich said it is extremely complicated to come up with solutions to satisfy a consolidated school district as well as individual towns.

“It’s very difficult to reconcile those two things,” said Rich. “Clearly, the state did no homework with this.”

However, if School Union 29 is denied their request for independence, Rich said it might be difficult to pick up where they left off.

Vandermay agreed.

“We’ll have some frank conversations, obviously. But we’ve overcome some adversity before,” said Vandermay. “The most important thing is that we want to do the right thing for the kids.”

If School Union 29 is allowed to remain independent, SAD 15 will do the same, and come up with a plan to cut costs by March 28. Vandermay said SAD 15 already falls within the state formula in many spending areas, making the process fairly easy.

“I’m not opposed to consolidation. The state has some good ideas about education, but the process should be from an educational standpoint, not a financial standpoint,” said Vandermay.

Duquette said whatever judgment the commissioner renders on Feb. 1 he does not feel meetings with SAD 15 last fall were a waste of time. Duquette said he learned a lot from the district and called the process an “eye-opener.”

“They have a lot of extremely positive things going for them, more so than we do in some areas,” said Duquette.