The districts have been discussing a possible merger for more than a year.
By Terry Karkos
Staff Writer

PERU – The major stumbling block over a proposed merger between SAD 21 and the Peru School Department fell by the wayside Thursday night, following meetings with the state’s education commissioner.

After more than a year of painstakingly slow negotiations, both sides were ready to move forward as one.

“I thought it went very good,” said Peru Superintendent John Turner. “I don’t think there is a lot separating us anymore. Just nit-picky stuff we can easily work out.”

Thomas Ward, SAD 21’s superintendent, agreed.

Prior to a joint meeting of the boards and Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron, she met with each group of directors separately to hear what both had to say.

All along, the major hurdle to clear had been finding common ground over a cost-share ratio that was fair to SAD 21’s towns of Canton, Carthage and Dixfield, and Peru.

Until Thursday night, SAD 21 had dug in its heels for a ratio based 100 percent on valuation, while Peru sought some kind of valuation-pupil split.

Ward said Gendron had reviewed the present funding formulas for all communities involved, looking at 100 percent, a 90-10 split and a 75-25 split. She settled on a ratio based 90 percent on valuation and 10 percent based on pupil population.

Based on approximate 2003-04 school year estimates, under the 90-10 split, Canton’s share would be $352,458, Carthage’s would be $148,435, and Dixfield would pay $969,736. Peru’s share would be $743,470.

Currently, each town’s share is based 100 percent on valuation. Canton is paying $369,314, Carthage is paying 148,440, Dixfield is paying $977,386, and Peru is paying $701,131.

The 90-10 split is a more equitable distribution of costs, Ward said.

“As my board began to look at it more realistically, 90-10 is more fair for everyone. We didn’t have these firmer figures when we first looked at this. Now, we all feel much better about this proposal than before,” Ward said.

The next course of action involves another meeting between Ward, Turner, SAD 21 and Peru School Committee Chairwomen Barbara Chow and Tammi Lyons to iron out minor wrinkles in the proposed merger agreement. Then Turner will take the new document to his board next week and Ward will do the same in December.

After that, public forums will be held by both boards in their respective towns. Referendum voting on the matter in Peru would take place at the end of January or first of February. If voters in Peru approve the merger, then SAD 21 will conduct its referendum.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

Copy the Story Link