Even before the Wiscasset future of the schools committee formed years ago after a town vote, it looked to me obvious that tuitioning out the high schoolers would save at least some money, but at the cost of some of the community spirit that comes from generations of a town being fellow alumni. Still, it was worth a look, because, whether people have kids or not, they have taxes to pay and that is not easy for everyone, or maybe hardly anyone. So if the difference was huge, change at least could be considered.

Turns out the savings might be big, but not necessarily huge, and factors that hadn't crossed my mind and maybe not some other people's minds either, could scuttle those savings.

A relatively new expression, and one I hope doesn't stay around because it does nothing for the evolution of language, is to say something is "a lot," as in a lot to absorb and process. By that definition and by the report's length, if you count the appendix, the report is a lot.

Please take the time to read it or at least the front part. A link is included in the future of the schools committee meeting article at wiscassetnewspaper.com. The committee report is also planned to be available at wiscasset.gov

The regionalization idea alone is a lot, in part because, if the zillion things work out that would have to, there would be no more "alone." Call it a more voluntary version of the state-mandated consolidations at the start of the century. 

Barring a population surge that would demand all the schools the Midcoast could build or reopen, this looks like it, school-age children wise for a while, everyone. Another Maine Yankee, as in, any big job creator and taxpayer, or a line of medium-sized ones, could spell otherwise. But sometimes, while towns can hope and plan and invest for that, they also have to make the best decisions for the situation at hand. And sometimes, with hard work and an open heart, those decisions turn out to have some incredible outcomes.

So let's keep our minds and hearts open for the potentially long road ahead as Wiscasset and other school districts figure out what, if anything, they are willing and able to change about where they carry out education.