GARDINER -- School Administrative District 11 could look markedly different come fall 2009.

The four-town school system could be without one of its five elementary schools. Or the district could shift its fifth-grade students to Gardiner Regional Middle School.

Under another scenario, eighth-grade students could find themselves entering Gardiner Area High School a year early. And the district is also exploring what could be saved from closing the central office and moving administrative operations elsewhere.

The district's board members Thursday night began discussing what changes they could make as they look toward grim budget numbers.

"We are just desperately trying to find ways to save some money for this horrible budget year that's coming up," said Steve Hunnewell, vice chairman of the SAD 11 board.

The 2,200-student school system is facing a $700,000 jump in salary and benefit costs next school year, according to Hunnewell.

At the same time, officials expect the district's state subsidy -- like other districts' -- will either remain at the current $12.7 million level or drop. To add to the difficulty, Gov. John Baldacci on Wednesday curtailed state spending, cutting aid to local school districts for the remainder of the fiscal year by more than $27 million.

SAD 11 and other districts should find out today exactly how the $27 million cutback will impact them.

"This is not good news," SAD 11 Superintendent Paul Knowles said. "We are in a very, very difficult situation."

"If you take $700,000 and a reduction in state aid, you're looking at a $1 million tax increase," Hunnewell said.

If SAD 11 shut down Randolph's T.C. Hamlin School and moved the 95 students in kindergarten through grade 5 to Pittston Consolidated School, Knowles said, the district would save $224,000.

SAD 11, which serves Gardiner, Pittston, Randolph and West Gardiner, would generate additional savings from cutting staff positions in conjunction with the school closing.

To absorb 95 more students, Pittston Consolidated School would likely have to add portable classrooms, Principal Shelly Simpson said.

The Pittston school currently enrolls 160 students in kindergarten through grade 5. It has a 210-student capacity, according to district enrollment figures.

Board members would likely have to decide on the school closure by January, Knowles said. Randolph residents would vote on the decision.

Board members Thursday also suggested increasing student-teacher ratios and relying on reserve funds as a way to plug the expected budget gap. Some high school elective classes, Knowles said, enroll fewer than 10 students.

"The lower the student-teacher ratio, the more optimal the learning," Knowles said. "But in these times, you cannot sustain these student-teacher ratios."

Any money-saving changes are possibilities this year, board members said.

"I think we have to approach this the same we did last year," Randolph member Candace Avery said, "which is, no idea too outrageous."

Randolph member Tyler Trott suggested consolidating some classes at the high school level rather than target cuts at the elementary level, where the district made some cuts last year.

And Pittston member Ginger Shaw asked teachers to suggest areas for savings.

"I would really like to hear from teachers, people in the trenches, to see if there are some minimal things we can do that will have an impact."

Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, ext. 435

mstone@centralmaine.com