JAY – SAD 36 and Jay school leaders have submitted a request to the state Department of Education for a feasibility study to determine the best use of school buildings in Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls.

The proposal, which includes the state paying for the study, was submitted by joint agreement between Jay School Committee Chairwoman Mary Redmond-Luce and SAD 36 Chairman Ashley O’Brien in their capacity as co-chairwomen of the regional school planning committee.

The regional committee, assigned to develop a plan to consolidate the towns into one school system, has not met since November after the meetings came to a standstill because of uncertainty about the state’s school reorganization law.

One item the group struggled with was school buildings and the best use for them by students and staff.

“The two primary reasons to consider consolidating the Jay and SAD 36 school districts is first and foremost to enhance the learning opportunities available to our students and to offer those learning opportunities in a more efficient and cost-effective way,” O’Brien said. “A comprehensive study and life cycle analysis of each district’s buildings by an outside party will provide each of us with important information as we attempt to envision the future for our students and communities.”

Redmond-Luce had approached Education Commissioner Susan Gendron in late 2007 or early 2008 to see if the state would pay for a study of the buildings.

Redmond-Luce said back then that the commissioner agreed and that there was money available for the study to help with the consolidation process.