WALES — Three community forums to explain “major” changes in Wales, Sabattus and Litchfield elementary schools will be held next week, Regional School Unit Superintendent Jim Hodgkin said.

Litchfield and Sabattus each has a prekindergarten through grade eight school; Wales has a K-8 school.

Next year, Sabattus Central School will house sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders for the three towns. In Litchfield, Carrie Ricker School will house the third-, fourth- and fifth-graders for the three towns. The lower grades will stay where they are for at least one year, Hodgkin said.

The changes are being made to save money. With a $1 million loss in state education money, “we can’t afford to do business the way we’ve been doing it,” Hodgkin said.

The meetings are being scheduled to share plans with parents and to answer their questions.

“We want to be able to talk about those issues, and give them reassurance we will be taking care of the kids,” Hodgkin said.

The community forums will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at Wales Central School; at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Carrie Ricker School in Litchfield; and at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at Sabattus Central School.