FARMINGTON – School systems were already working together voluntarily to find ways to run more efficiently before state-mandated school restructuring came down last year, superintendents said Friday during a panel discussion.

They recognized that with many systems experiencing declining enrollment, they needed to find new ways to share services and save money if they want to continue to operate and offer students the best educational opportunities.

The Western Maine Educational Collaborative based in New Sharon, consisting of several superintendents from schools in Androscoggin, Franklin, Kennebec and Oxford counties, has exceeded $450,000 in savings in its 19 months by sharing services, including staff professional development.

None of the superintendents sitting on a panel to discuss public school restructuring Friday mentioned problems with sharing services to save money, but they did have concerns about the way the state is handling public school reorganization.

“The idea of consolidation is not wrong. What is causing all the issues at home and at the Legislature is the methodology,” SAD 36 Superintendent Terry Despres said. “Legislation always works better close to home.”

But people on school boards in charge of setting policies, those on regional planning committees in charge of developing a plan for new regional school systems, and community members have not been given the opportunity to share their concerns at the state level, the superintendents said.

The lack of direction in Augusta is causing “great strife” within some communities, with the rules continuing to change, hindering efforts to move forward, Despres said.

“We are in an emotional roller coaster,” Despres said. No good comes from emotions being involved in the process, he added.

The underlying issue, Despres said, is the state cannot afford to fund 55 percent of the cost of local education – as it has promised to do – and sustain it.

Maine Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron was expected to speak at the forum at the University of Maine at Farmington but needed to speak before the Legislature’s Education Committee on Friday morning, DOE spokesman David Connerty-Marin said later in the day.

Jay Superintendent Robert Wall said there is too much negativity toward schools. He said the state is wasting money and not concentrating on the people.

Better use of school facilities needs to be addressed, he said. SAD 36 towns of Livermore, Livermore Falls and Jay are on track to consolidate. He has a newer middle school in Jay that is projected to house 216 students in a few years but could fit 600.

It still needs to be heated, it still needs to be maintained, he said. He believes there should be a complete facility review of school buildings.

SAD 9 Assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt announced that a regional planning committee Thursday completed a plan to consolidate SAD 9 and SAD 58, Highland and Coplin plantations. It will be sent to school boards and reviewed legally before it is submitted to the state, she said.

The premise for this plan was cost-savings in consolidation, Pratt said, but the planning committee doesn’t see cost-savings.

The two school districts have collaborated for three years and continue to share services such as technology coordinator and a central staff person, she said.

Connerty-Marin said the rules to reorganization haven’t changed yet. There have been discussions on possible changes to allow local cost-sharing agreements, among others.

LD 1932 will go before the Legislature to remove some of those barriers.

“We’re hoping that the financial fixes will go through quickly so people can get back to work,” Connerty-Marin said. “We’re encouraging committees to move forward. The longer they wait, the less time they’ll have to complete the plan.”