LIVERMORE FALLS — Merging the Livermore Falls Middle School with the Jay Middle School will not happen next year.

Jay submitted a proposal to an ad hoc collaboration committee of both boards that offered to house the Livermore and Livermore Falls middle school students beginning with the 2010-11 school year. Regional School Unit 36 board Chairman Ashley O’Brien asked fellow directors Thursday if anyone was interested in melding the two schools together. There was no answer.

O’Brien asked if anyone wanted to have any discussion on it? Again, no answer.

Representatives of the collaboration committee assured staff in the audience and fellow board members that they would all be included in the planning if it is discussed again.

“I want my kids to stay here,” Director Marie Josee Castonguay said. “I like the school. I like what they are doing … I want them here.”

O’Brien asked directors the questions after they got an update on a community survey sent out to residents in both school districts on consolidation, among other issues. The majority of residents returning the survey indicated they would be willing to vote again on another consolidation plan.

Voters in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls rejected consolidating the two districts in January.

O’Brien said that during a Nov. 30 collaboration committee meeting, Jay Superintendent Robert Wall and Jay School Committee Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce put the proposal forward for the second time to integrate the schools.

He said Superintendent Judith Harvey shared concerns about moving too fast and that any such move would be better off done thoughtfully instead of fast.

After Harvey had discussions with a Department of Education representative, O’Brien said it is believed they have one opportunity to go back to voters and it should be done with a whole plan.

There is no need to rush this for 2010-11, O’Brien said, and Harvey agreed.

It was suggested they wrap a whole proposal into one package so people can vote on it, Harvey said.

Director Denise Rodzen, chairwoman of the RSU 36 collaboration committee that is trying to work with Jay and Fayette to save money, said she wished that Jay representatives had let RSU 36 explain the proposal to its board before it appeared in the newspaper.

The RSU 36 directors on the committee had told Jay, combining the middle school students wouldn’t happen next year, they said.

Wall and Redmond-Luce gave their board an update on the regional school unit discussion at its Dec. 3 meeting. The topic is a regular agenda item.

SAD 36 Education Association President Sally Rees-Speich said there was a huge amount of discussion around the article by both staff and students. Staff was concerned that they had to read about the proposal in the paper.

“I am not opposed to consolidation if it means higher quality education and less tax commitment for the communities,” Rees- Speich said. “I am opposed to a half way action that does not serve the purpose of either higher quality education or the reduction in expenses that a thoroughly thought out and implemented plan would bring to the communities.”

Staff feels there are several major issues that were overlooked in the discussion to merge the two middle schools, she said.

“We would like to be included in whatever process is finally decided upon so that issues we feel are important for our students are not overlooked,” she said. “The middle school staff has over the last five years overcome immense obstacles to improve the quality of our middle school experience for our students.”

Rees-Speich asked the board not to jump the gun.

“Your staff is highly knowledgeable and motivated,” she said. “We will help you get consolidation done correctly if that is what you feel is best for this district. Take the time to do it right. Include us in the planning process to make sure it is done right.”

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