JAY – The school superintendent told selectmen Monday that the School Department is looking at every opportunity to maximize collaboration with others.
Selectmen had asked Superintendent Robert Wall and School Committee members to come to Monday’s board meeting to discuss regionalization efforts with other school systems.
Selectmen Chairman Bill Harlow said residents asked him and other selectmen about Jay’s efforts after it was announced that SAD 36 and the Winthrop School Department were going to share some support and administrative staff to reduce costs to each system.
SAD 36 Superintendent Terry Despres will serve as superintendent for both SAD 36 and Winthrop next year in a one-year pilot program.
“What we have to realize is that not every opportunity is good for Jay,” Wall said. His first priority, Wall said, is to make sure an opportunity works for Jay.
Wall said he and other staff continue to look for ways themselves to do things in ways that are more cost-effective.
There are a lot of ways, he said, that the department is collaborating that may not be apparent to others.
As one example of collaboration, Wall cited the School Department and the town combining mechanic services for all town and school vehicles.
He also noted that next year’s school budget was reduced about $100,000 from the existing $10.6 million school operation budget.
He said the school system will receive $93,713 more than it initially expected in state school funding because of two adjustments, which will be used to lower the tax commitment. Jay residents will be asked to raise $661,685 less than last year for the schools, Wall said.
The agreement between SAD 36 and Winthrop is unique, Wall said, because one system is a school administrative district and the other a municipal school department. Wall also noted that Despres is a former superintendent of Winthrop and has a previous relationship with that system.
“We want to assure everyone we are working to collaborate,” Wall told selectmen.
He said Jay is sharing transportation with SAD 36 for students attending Foster Regional Applied Technology Center in Farmington. Jay also shares some special education services, he said.
Selectman Alan Labbe asked if Jay was involved in a large group of schools working together to collaborate on services. He said he was told Jay wasn’t participating.
Wall said Labbe was misinformed.
“I make meetings when I can,” he said. He said there is a meeting next week.
“You can’t go to all of them,” Wall said. “I also have to say, a partnership with Jay is probably more positive for others.”
He is not against working with other people, Wall said, and would certainly take a look at opportunities that are advantageous to Jay.
If people have ideas on how to collaborate, Wall said, they should call him.
“You know we’re interested in doing things better,” he said.
Selectman Rick Simoneau asked if Jay was working with a group of schools to buy oil and other bulk items.
Wall said the school got a better oil rate locally.
“If there’s a relationship where we can save money,” Wall said, “we’ll get in on it. We are always out there looking.”
Harlow and School Committee member Gene Uhuad said they agreed that each opportunity needs to be looked at to see if it would work for Jay.
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