Much is being discussed among school officials concerning possible consolidations or realignments among area school districts. This is promising, because the current overly complex governance format in the Southshire needs streamlining.

But isn't it time for stronger efforts to involve the public and gather input in this issue and on the various proposals? More comment from school officials also would be welcome.

Currently, the Bennington School District is studying the idea of merging or taking over the Mount Anthony Union District and forming a new Bennington district that would take on debt for the middle school building.

Other districts in the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union presumably would then contract for services at the MAU high school and middle school -- or contract with other districts in the region.

This is just one of several ongoing studies involving current SVSU districts. The North Bennington board is studying all education options that might be open to it, including forming alliances with the Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union, with Shaftsbury School District, or with a combination of agreements with the SVSU and MAU or Northshire schools.

Shaftsbury is studying the idea of an alliance with North Bennington to form a kindergarten through eighth grade district.

And this week, the Mount Anthony Union District Board was advised by the state Commissioner of Education Armando Vilaseca that the makeup of its regional

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board "fails to pass constitutional muster," if it is not reapportioned to better reflect Bennington's population. The commissioner asked for a plan by Jan. 1 for addressing the imbalance to allow time for possible action by voters on Town Meeting Day in March.

This is a suddenly pressing issue that should be thoroughly debated publicly. Bennington, as well as the other MAU towns, should hash out a fair solution to a representational problem -- with Bennington underrepresented based on population. Otherwise, the district could be leaving itself open for a court challenge.

How such a change might alter or fit into proposals for change in other districts is uncertain at this point, as is the fate of the cumbersome SVSU system with its multiple school boards and districts and lack of straightforward accountability for decisions.

The key will be whether the public participates and weighs in. If not, the status quo is likely to endure.