When it comes to gaining voter approval for badly needed improvements to its public schools, North Stonington has been the little town that couldn’t.

Last June, voters handily defeated a $40.5 million renovation project for its elementary and middle/high schools.

That referendum came just a few weeks after voters had trounced an earlier, more expensive, renovation plan for the two buildings, that one carrying a $47 million price tag.

To their credit, elected leaders are trying something different before working to bring another proposal before the voters. The Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance and Board of Education are conducting a series of joint meetings aimed at determining unified objectives and a strategy to present a cohesive message to voters.

The problems have not gone away. Utility systems are outdated, science laboratories and music rooms are inadequate, roofs and windows leak energy, layouts do not meet contemporary security needs, the schools do not comply with federal laws for access by people with disabilities, and the list goes on.

Among town leaders, at least, there is consensus that the status quo is not acceptable and a realization that delaying the work is only raising the eventual cost.

Those who want to see schools upgraded can take some encouragement from the fact that voters in Ledyard and Stonington recently approved large school building projects.

North Stonington, however, is different. With little commercial tax base, the cost of such a major project falls heavy on homeowners. The last proposal, if approved, would have added 3 mills to the tax rate, about $500 more annually for a home valued at $240,000.

Unlike Stonington and Ledyard, some in North Stonington question if the town can afford to continue maintaining its own high school, and whether students would be better served attending larger high schools in the region that accept out-of-town students.

Agreeing on a path forward and a unified message in pursuing it remains a challenge, but having the three major boards in town talking cannot hurt.