AUBURN – As an alternative to eliminating positions and other cuts outlined last week, the Auburn School Committee is mulling a proposal to close two elementary schools, move those students to the remaining four schools, and even double up on sessions in one or two schools.

If double sessions were needed, classes could be held from 7 a.m. to noon for the first session, 1 to 6 p.m. for the second, said Ward 3 member Thomas Kendall, who proposed the consolidation Wednesday night.

No action was taken on the proposal. Several members said they didn’t like what they heard.

Kendall said the magnitude of cuts facing Auburn schools requires an out-of-the-box solution, and Auburn has too many elementary schools anyway. If the city were to close East Auburn and Walton – schools with smaller student populations of 144 and 218 – Kendall estimated that would save about $500,000 a year.

If Auburn had schools with larger student populations that would bring better programs, it would save money by not having to light and heat so many buildings.

Meanwhile, the amount of cuts the School Committee may have to make could shrink from $1.7 million to $1.1 million.

City Councilor Ron Potvin, the mayor’s representative on the committee, said he is urging the council to restore $600,000 to the school budget in large part to avoid layoffs. If that happened, it would mean city taxpayers would provide about the same money as last year, as are state taxpayers. Rising costs, mostly raises and benefits, would still create a deficit.

Kendall said he was motivated to consider a different way of addressing the budget after a few schools had to close because their roofs caved in from heavy snow. Other schools had to double up on facilities.

“I know this has been done in other school districts in Maine and the country,” he said. “I am trying to give us an alternative to consider that I believe has merit, that preserves what Auburn has provided for educational experience to children, which has been a superior educational experience in my estimation,” he said. “We need a different solution than cut, cut, cut and see where the chips fall.”

What if, Potvin asked, next year the federal and state revenue picture looks better, meanwhile Auburn has closed two schools. Wouldn’t the action look silly to residents who have lost schools, Potvin asked.

No, Kendall said. Six elementary schools “stretches us financially and does not allow us to provide the same level of service to every child. I don’t think we can afford that.” he said. “There’s a lot to be gained with fewer elementary schools and not very much to be lost.”

Still, committee members seemed unimpressed. Bonnie Hayes said elementary children are most productive in the morning, and their attention spans wane in the afternoon. “The savings we gain out of this has to be weighed against the learning ability of little kids.”

Lane Feldman said the last thing he’d want is to see his child on a bus at 6:15 in the morning, or pick his child up at school at 7 at night. If Auburn had that kind of system, “I’d be going elsewhere.”

Kendall countered that if a roof collapsed on an Auburn school, “What would you do? You would have to come up with an emergency plan. I’m considering the budget crisis as an emergency plan we need to respond to.”

Committee Chairman David Das said the fiscal reality is that cuts are and will continue to be needed. He praised Kendall for giving the committee a lot to think about, and invited others to offer cost-saving ideas.

The committee will continue budget talks when it meets Tuesday.