Poll: Townwide consolidation of school districts?

Townwide consolidation of Long Island school districts could save millions of dollars each year while preserving a large degree of local control, an economic consultant told the region's top planners Tuesday.

Martin Cantor (above), a former Dowling College think-tank director, outlined a plan he has drafted that would merge dozens of local school districts, eliminate most superintendents' jobs, and turn hiring and budgeting over to building principals. Cantor made his presentation before a monthly meeting of the Long Island Regional Planning Council in Farmingdale.