LIVERMORE FALLS — Twelve of 13 Regional School Unit 36 board members said Thursday that they favor consolidating with the Jay school system. However, they want to take it slow and do it right, and keep the kids in the forefront.

Director Rod Newman of Livermore was the only dissenter, though no official vote was taken. He said he wouldn’t be able to support consolidation until the state education funding formula was made more equitable.

It would cost the Livermore and Livermore Falls taxpayers more money to merge with Jay the way it is now, he said.

Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls voters rejected consolidating school systems last year.

Board Chairman Ashley O’Brien of Livermore asked each member to give their opinions on consolidation.

“I think consolidation is the way to go but I think there are a lot of factors that need to be considered before it is achieved,” Director Ann Souther of Livermore Falls said. “I think it has been a long time coming … but butting of heads needs to stop.”

Director Lynn Knight also of Livermore Falls said she has favored consolidation all along.

“I would like to see the (three) communities get together in a spirit of trust,” she said. “There is so much good we could do for students.”

She does have some concerns that need to be worked out, namely the number of teachers, how much each community pays for the new district and curriculum, she said.

Livermore Falls Director Denise Rodzen said she has been in favor of consolidation. She said she had frustrations that the board didn’t continue to meet on curriculum and other matters to see how they could work together even after voters rejected the initial plan. They are doing some collaboration, she said.

She said the board also needs to start looking at revenue sources.

One of the programs RSU 36 does well is the Progressive Learning Institute that helps students stay in school in a nontraditional pathway, she said. No other school in the area does it, she said, and they could accept tuition students.

“It’s much easier to buy a slot from us than trying to start a program” of their own, she said. “There are a lot of things we could be doing to work together.”

Both school districts are getting smaller and smaller, Director Jennifer Pooler of Livermore Falls said.

“I think if we decide to move forward we need to focus on what’s best for the kids,” Pooler said. “It can’t be done quickly. We have to do it thoughtfully and transparently. We need to share our moves.”

O’Brien said he thinks consolidation is inevitable but doesn’t think it can be done unless the plan is fair and equitable to taxpayers and staff, and puts kids in the forefront.

More than 30 people from all three towns attended the meeting.

Livermore town administrator Kurt Schaub said he was encouraged to hear the board comments on consolidation. “What we’re asking you to do is commit to a thorough process that explores all the things you need to explore” to reach a plan, he said.

The first time around, he said, people at the town offices heard from residents that they did not understand the financial implications.

Jay Town Manager Ruth Cushman and Livermore Falls Town Manager Jim Chaousis echoed the concerns of taxpayers and decreasing revenues and funding sources, and offered their help in the process.

O’Brien said he will contact Jay School Committee Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce to discuss what they will bring back to their boards.

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