ANOTHER VICTIM OF SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION LAW

Morning Sentinel, Pittsfield - The local school system is already facing several budget "whammies" this year, Superintendent Michael Gallagher says, amounting to a projected $300,000 to $400,000 shortfall. And under state law, School Administrative District 53 is set to take another $185,000 hit. The district needed to hold a vote on merging with another school system by the end of this month to avoid that. But school officials are lobbying to be absolved of a state penalty, saying they've exhausted all options to comply with the state's school consolidation law.. . .