WAYNE -- Some Augusta-area special education directors are showing interest in beginning a regional center for autistic children at Wayne Elementary School, Maranacook-area schools Special Education Director Lew Collins said Wednesday.

Special-education directors in seven central Maine school districts recently returned surveys to Collins meant to gauge interest in a specialized program at the public elementary school. Nearly 85 percent of the directors said they had at least some degree of interest in beginning such a program, according to Collins.

Maranacook-area school officials are considering locating a specialized program at the Wayne school as part of discussions on how the town can keep its school open despite a shrinking student population. Wayne school committee members are brainstorming ways to use extra space in the school formerly occupied by a Head Start pre-school program, which closed in the spring.