By Winslow Durgin,Special to the Sun Journal

MINOT – The local school union, which represents Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland, may again look into forming a school administrative district.

The issue was raised last week by committee member Laurie Levine of Poland after the School Union 29 committee accepted the resignation of Superintendent Nina Schlikin, effective when her contract expires in June 2007.

Over the years much has been made of the administrative complexity of having a superintendent report to five school committees – one for each of the towns, one for Poland Regional High School and one for the school union. SADs have one school board with representatives from each town.

Union Committee Chairman Dave Griffiths of Mechanic Falls suggested that moving to a SAD could make the job of the superintendent more attractive.

“I think we will find there is money to be saved,” said Griffiths pointing to duplication of services in the three towns.

Minot’s Steve Holbrook feared the interests of small towns could be swallowed up.

The makeup of SAD boards is determined by the population of each town.

Larger towns have more representatives.

“If there is a SAD, we won’t be voting on a budget, we will be getting a bill,” Holbrook said, referring to Minot’s relative smallness.

With reference to a movement on the state level to consolidate administrative units, committee member Colleen Quint of Minot said, “We need to understand how SADs work. The state may force our hand.”

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