Where are the savings?   
   
    Governor John Baldacci’s proposal to cut school districts in Maine down to 26 “superdistricts” and, in the process, eliminate school administrators, is supposed to save the state tons of money. But my question is, will it save money or will it cause a great deal of unnecessary headaches?
    There is a reason for the number of school administrators and districts that we currently have. As the population of Maine has grown, so has the need for oversight and administration. The current structure was not pulled out of somebody’s hat like a rabbit.
    Another contributing factor to the current school administrative structure is the demands placed on districts to meet certain standards and criteria, specifically with initiatives like the No Child Left Behind Act. Those standards will not disappear suddenly, at least not in the near future. They will still be there, and someone will have to work to keep up with all of them.
    School administrators, specifically superintendents, have a lot that is asked of them. They do not sit around all day twiddling their thumbs. They are constantly on the move, visiting their schools and meeting with staff. The work load of a superintendent will not go away, so if these 26 “superdistricts” do come to pass, will these “super” superintendents be able to do the work of several of their counterparts? I would venture to guess that they would not be able to come near the level of service that communities expect.
    There are also curriculum directors, special education directors and assistant superintendents who all work in school administration. Where will their workload go?
    It may seem like a good idea on the surface to consolidate school administration, and some parts of Maine could possibly benefit from the proposal that is being put forth. But not on the scale that they are asking.