School mergers still need to happen, in our opinion, but the increase in shared positions between school districts is a trend worth encouraging.

Clymer and Sherman central schools are sharing a curriculum coordinator this year. The position is focused on student data and correlating curriculum resources for students at both schools. Frewsburg and Southwestern are considering sharing a transportation coordinator, according to the agenda for this week’s Southwestern Central School board meeting. And Randolph Central School and the Randolph Academy are cooperating on staff development programs and are in talks for a shared advanced agricultural program.

These are outstanding developments both in terms of saving money for taxpayers but also in providing a better experience for area children. The area’s schools have become adept at sharing sports teams.

Extending that success to the back office has always made sense. Every dollar saved on administrators is a dollar that can be reinvested into the classroom for supplies, programs or teachers.

What’s really exciting, though, is the collaboration between Randolph and the Randolph Academy to share an advanced agricultural program. Many area students take advantage of Jamestown Community College and State University at Fredonia courses while they’re in high school, but it makes sense to find ways for neighboring schools to collaborate more regarding course offerings. The situation with Randolph Central School and Randolph Academy is helped by the two schools’ proximity to each other, but schools separated by only a few miles should also investigate such shared programs. Falconer students may be able to benefit from Jamestown High School’s course offerings, or Panama from Southwestern Central School’s offerings.

Shared programs seem to be springing up again. It’s a development worth encouraging — and expanding into the classroom, too.