Barry Dolloff of Peru deserves credit for recognizing the looming issues regarding his residency, long before officials of SAD 21 became aware. A registered sex offender, Dolloff realized the construction of a new school on property adjacent to his home was a prime recipe for controversy.

So, Dolloff has acted graciously, by all accounts. First, he called school officials to apologize about the situation, then he and his wife listed their home for sale. They were neither compelled nor obligated to do so.

These actions, however, have put the school district and Maine Department of Education in a position to act as well. No statute or policy dictates a course of action, because this scenario hadn’t been contemplated, according to the department. This has made officials react with surprise and wonderment about what they should do.

Given the options, for now, we recommend nothing.

The district and department of education should refrain from trying to legislate or policymake their way through this situation. Looking in hindsight, the registry should have been consulted long ago. Now, action by either SAD 21 or the state on this issue will only set an interesting, controversial precedent.

Some have suggested the school should purchase Dolloff’s house, which sounds equitable until weighing the wisdom of endorsing schools “buying out” neighbors who might be considered undesirable.

Nor is it sensible for the department to include sex offender proximity on the checklist for siting new schools, unless it’s prepared to make all schools track the movement of registered offenders around the boundaries. This is already a tall and difficult task for police to accomplish.

And schools – like everyone who consults the sex offender registry – would evaluate the dangerousness of proximate offenders without adequate information, a current chronic complaint about the registry. Without detailed information about charges, punishments and probation, schools could raise alarms, but not improve student safety.

Maine’s lawmakers have ran afoul of its highest court, by adding or amending existing sex offender laws at almost every opportunity. Last month, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said repeated alterations intended to strengthen sex offender statutes have put their overall constitutionality into question.

The Legislature’s Criminal Justice Committee is now reviewing these statutes, mindful of the court’s opinion.

Now is not the time for schools to also jump into this fray. Peru’s situation is unique, but not an emergency, and the the major step has already been taken – the home is for sale. This willingness to resolve issues through the market should be respected.

Sometimes, government must take swift, decisive action to protect the public interest.

This, however, doesn’t seem like one of those times.