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ALBANY -- Consolidation has long been touted as a way for school districts to save money, but for years the conversation has centered around encouraging smaller, more rural districts to join together.

On Monday, state Education Commissioner John King said he would like to see larger districts in more densely populated, and wealthiest, parts of the state explore consolidation to save money. At the monthly Board of Regents meeting, King said it might make more financial sense for school districts on Long Island and in Westchester County to combine resources. It's a move that could relieve the tax burden and allow schools to stop cutting programs.

The geographic distance between schools downstate is relatively small compared to more rural areas across upstate. Districts in those parts of the state also have large numbers of high-paid administrators, including the superintendent of the Syosset district on Long Island, who earns $506,000.

As he pushed for a property tax cap, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said school districts need to find more ways to save money. He said small school districts, in particular, should consolidate and find ways to combine resources such as health care or back-office functions. He has dangled $250 million in school aid funding for districts that find a way to save money through administrative efficiencies.

But many of those districts -- particularly in places like the North Country and the Adirondacks, where some districts have about a dozen students -- have explored consolidation for years. The geography of the mountains or sparsely populated northern communities make a combination unlikely, because students spend hours a day riding buses.

Around the state, "They're talking about it but it's not actually happening," said Board of Regents member James Tallon Jr. "The easy ones are done."

Consolidation can be an agonizing process for school districts and parents who do not want to see their neighborhood school shuttered. Joining doesn't necessarily save money for taxpayers, because varying tax rates could mean consolidation would raise the property tax bill for some communities as it lowers the burden on others. In addition, combining the collective bargaining agreements for separate teacher unions can make the process extremely difficult.

Locally, the Schodack and Ichabod Crane school districts have been talking about consolidation, but after about a year, a vote is still not on the horizon and it's unclear if it would pass. Some parents have said larger schools would hurt the education of their children.

As districts scramble with the newly enacted property tax cap and an expected sparsity of new school district aid for at least a few years, further consolidation conversations are likely.

Reach Scott Waldman at 454-5080 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Follow him at www.Twitter.com/518Schools.