JAY – School Committee members voted Thursday to set up a task force with neighboring school systems to find ways to save money, share costs and improve student programming.

They also voted to send a letter to Maine Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron to get guidance on the next steps for the school system to be in compliance with state laws and regulations regarding school reorganization.

Voters in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls voted against a plan to consolidate Jay and SAD 36 school systems in January.

The board’s vote was to create a task force with Jay, SAD 36 and SAD 9 to look at cost savings and sharing in the areas of transportation, co-curricular activities, buildings and grounds, special education, central office services, and teaching and learning.

Jay school Superintendent Robert Wall’s letter to Gendron, says, “The Jay School Committee recognizes the benefits of some form of consolidation and is supportive of developing a comprehensive and cooperative relationship with SAD 36 and other area schools.”

School Committee members requested that SAD 9 be approached to join the task force. A copy of the letter will go to SAD 36 and SAD 9 school officials.

The governing boards in each school system would determine who would be on the task force.

Vice Chairman Tammy Dwinal-Shufelt recommended that community members and town officials be included on the task force.

Wall said it is important to let the public know “we’re willing and ready to improve what we are doing for our students” and to run the schools more efficiently.

It is important to look at “how we could work together,” Wall said.

With the decline in student enrollment and revenue, Wall said, it just won’t allow the school system to continue to support existing programming.

He estimates Jay will see about $1 million less income for the 2009-10 budget. Most of that is due to the town’s valuation increasing, he said.

Wall already met with SAD 36 Superintendent David Wallace earlier this week to explore ideas.

In a related matter, Wall said school leaders are joining with town officials and others to appeal the penalties to be assessed to school systems that did not consolidate.

The effort is in the preliminary stages, he said.