LIVERMORE – SAD 36 directors are holding an information meeting tonight, first for Livermore and Livermore Falls town officials, and then for the public, to discuss school consolidation.

The board’s meeting with selectmen is at 6 tonight at the Livermore Elementary School followed by the public forum at 7 p.m. at the school.

Directors want to let people know what they have been doing with other school districts as far as collaboration and consolidation go and to explain what the state is requiring school systems to do, board Vice Chairman Fred Nadeau said.

The board is also seeking input from residents of both towns.

“This is their opportunity to voice their opinion and ask questions,” he said.

SAD 36 has held discussions with school systems in Jay, SAD 52 in Turner and with Winthrop, he said.

“At this point, everybody is looking at all of their options,” Nadeau said.

Though nothing has been finalized at the legislative level in Augusta, and news of what’s going on and what is proposed to happen to school systems in the future changes constantly, Nadeau said, there are many things to consider.

“We have come up with a student number. We have to look at formation of a new school board and how that is going to represent partners in the community,” he said. “There are different ways to formulate a board based on one man, one vote.”

Early indications are that the state will mandate that school districts consolidate to “super districts” with about 2,500 or more students.

“We’re looking ahead. We’re looking into the future here. It’s awfully hard to do not knowing exactly what the Legislature is going to do,” he said.

Nadeau said he and many others have concerns about the educational future.

“I’m afraid this being done so quickly to cover a short-term money problem that in the long run they’re going to create a monster,” he said. “The (Maine Department of Education) will have control over education in the state of Maine, and they become a large and unmanageable department with very little accountability similar to what (Maine Department of Health and Human Services) has become.”

Nadeau said he thought he knew where things were going with the future of education during the past few days, but what’s has been reported coming out of Augusta is not the same as what he has been hearing.

“We’re being asked to do this right now without knowing what the final funding formula of the Legislature is going to be,” he said.