Consolidating two school districts, as Atlanta and Hillman are pondering now, can have its benefits.

The chance to combine administrative functions can save money, and a bigger district can bring other economies of scale, such as the ability to buy supplies in bigger bulk, which is usually cheaper overall. Bigger districts also have bigger pools of students to fill out sports teams and clubs.

But consolidation has its costs, too. Any school district’s biggest single expense is its employees, which means the biggest savings will come from layoffs — and that affects real people. Class sizes could go up.

The other way to find big savings is to close buildings, but that could mean some students have to be bused farther to school, which can add costs for fuel and wear-and-tear on buses.

Other costs are less calculable.

In most Michigan communities, the local school is part of the local identity. It’s where the town gathers to watch athletic events or school plays. Town meetings are held in school gymnasiums and auditoriums, and many people cast ballots every election inside a local school.

Consolidation can take that identity away.

Sometimes, the benefits of consolidation make a merger the right course of action. That could be the case for Atlanta and Hillman.

But we urge everyone involved, from administrators to teachers to school board trustees to parents to taxpayers, to weigh the costs and benefits carefully. A consolidation is not easy, but it is easier than unmerging what’s already been combined, so the Atlanta-Hillman proposal must be thoughtfully considered.