ANSON — By working together, two school districts are trying to find ways to improve education and save money.

Board members from School Administrative District 74, serving Anson, Embden, Solon and New Portland, met Wednesday night with SAD 13 board members from Bingham and Moscow to talk about joining forces in some cases.

The two districts used to have an inter-local agreement in which they shared personnel, including a superintendent. They also previously pursued consolidation.

At a meeting Wednesday, they discussed how they can collaborate again. For example, SAD 13 students could join the joint transportation of SAD 74 and Madison-based SAD 59 students to the Somerset Career & Technical Center in Skowhegan.

Both districts agreed that consolidating into a formal alternative organizational structure, known as an AOS, would not be likely to happen soon. The two districts, plus the one in Madison, discussed this spring the possibility of joining together.

“We didn’t rule out the possibility down the road of forming an AOS,” said SAD 13 board Chairman Brian Malloy, of Bingham. “But right at the moment the feeling seemed to be to try to find ways to collaborate without actually forming an AOS.”

SAD 74 Superintendent Ken Coville and SAD 13 Superintendent Virginia Rebar will meet to discuss a plan of action for how the districts can eliminate redundant services or contracts.

“All parties have to come to the table prepared to be flexible,” Coville said. “It’s looking for opportunities of mutual benefit between the organizations while remaining independent as two separate school systems.”

Malloy said it would make sense for leaders in SAD 59, serving Madison, Athens, Starks and Brighton Plantation, to also join the conversation.

“We’re all running into the same problem. SAD 13 is probably being hit the hardest. We don’t have enough kids for some of the programs that we’d like to have,” Malloy said.

Erin Rhoda — 474-9534

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