It’s fair to say that school consolidation has received a bad rap. When something is mandated, it’s natural for our defenses to come up and for us to dig in our heels and resist.

But for the citizens in the towns of Minot, Poland and Mechanic Falls, the decision to support school consolidation should be an easy one.

Representatives from each of the towns came together over the summer and drafted a plan that not only fits the state’s requirements, but also meets the needs of the students and citizens of all three towns.

These towns have worked together for many years as Union 29. Many aspects of the operations will remain the same and some things will change. The new school board will be structured just as the current Union 29 board is structured, with five citizens from each of the three towns.

The consolidation of debt and assets and the cost sharing formula come together in a way that’s fair and equitable to everyone. And best of all, combining resources for these three towns will likely expand the availability of opportunities for students.

I’ve been proud to serve on the Regional Planning Committee that spent the summer working together to make sure this plan is fair and equitable. While none of us is excited about a state mandate, in this case the result is actually a good one. It’s a solid plan and one residents can and should support.

Tina Kelly, Minot