JAY — Regional School Unit 73 directors voted 7-5 Thursday night to restructure the district’s elementary schools in Jay and Livermore.

With the vote, all students from pre-kindergarten to grade 2 will attend the Spruce Mountain Primary School in Livermore in the fall. All students from grades 3 to 5 will attend the Spruce Mountain Elementary School in Jay.

The school names will be changed from Livemore Elementary School and Jay Elementary School.

Voting for the restructuring were Holly Richards and Mark Holt, both of Livermore; Denise Rodzen, Laurie Sanborn and Tammy Frost, all of Livermore Falls; and Michael Morrell and Shari Ouellette, both of Jay.

Opposed were Amy McDaniel,Joel Pike and Doug DiPasquale, all of Jay; Jackie Knight of Livermore Falls; and Cynthia Young of Livermore.

Michael Schaedler of Jay was absent.

Prior to the vote, Pike expressed concerns about the way the proposal was presented. Thursday evening was the first time it was officially listed as an agenda. At previous meetings it was part of budget discussions because it was included in the 2016-17 budget.

Pike said board members have expressed concerns about voters passing the budget.

“Why would you add another variable to the budget?” he asked.

Young suggested waiting another year to give time for logistical planning.

Asked why he proposed restructuring the schools now, Superintendent Kenneth Healey said, “I was told if it’s good to do it next year, it’s good to do it this year.”

Frost said restructuring the elementary schools is the last piece to put students from the same grade together.

Each of the two elementary schools house students in kindergarten to grade 5, and Livermore houses all pre-kindergarten students.

After RSU 73 was formed in 2011, all high and middle school students from Jay, Livermore and Livermore Falls were housed in Jay.

Jay Elementary School Principal Chris Hollingsworth said putting the students together by grades is not a new concept and there could be some hiccups in moving the two schools.

Ouellette said it would be easier to align the curriculum with all the teachers of one grade level in one school.

Rodzen said the restructuring is an education policy and Healey could have made thes decision with his administrators.

“I asked for the board vote to show he has our backing,” she said.

One elementary teacher said staff have eight subjects to teach.

“There’s no plan for this,” she said. “Are you expecting us to teach while we’re trying to figure this all out? Do I have the same help as I have now?” 

Jay first grade teacher Rhonda Bean said, “Give us one year to make the plan. It’s like trying to ride the bicycle before it’s all put together.”

After the vote Frost said, “I really hope the administrators heard what the teachers said.”

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