STONE HARBOR –– Seven Mile Island schools are exploring options for more shared services.

Stone Harbor Board of Education President John Atwood read a joint statement from the Avalon and Stone Harbor Boards of Education regarding state-mandated consolidation studies at the meeting here Oct. 8.

“The Boards of Education of Avalon and Stone Harbor are cognizant of the new state laws and regulations designed to move small towns and school districts toward shared services and consolidation,” Atwood said.

“In order to identify feasible options and to assist in determining what is best for students and taxpayers, the boards have decided to retain jointly well-recognized educational, financial, demographic and legal experts to analyze the options and recommend courses of action,” he continued.

The statement, compiled by specialized education attorneys hired by both boards, is dated Sept. 17.

County Executive Superintendent of Schools Terrance Crowley was appointed to explore consolidation of all county school districts that are not K-12, like Stone Harbor and Avalon.

As a liaison to state Department of Education Commissioner Lucille Davy, Crowley visited the Seven-Mile Island school boards April 30 as part of his three-year information-gathering process and to answer questions about the state’s new School Funding Formula.

Crowley advised both school boards to keep track of how much money is already being saved through shared services in comparison to how much it would cost to run transportation etcetera individually. The boroughs already share school buses and a superintendent.

Atwood told the Herald the jointly hired demographic researchers would conduct a combined study for both boards to see what else could be shared among them.

“We want constantly updated information because it’s a very active situation with the state and we want to be efficient and save money,” Atwood said.

“We have all been following this (consolidation study)… and believe it’s time to look at it together.”

Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com.