President's Message
AN UPDATE ON CONSOLIDATION:
The school administrative reorganization proposal just passed unanimously in the Appropriations Committee. It now moves to the full
House and Senate. Floor debate in the House likely on Monday or Tuesday. Stay tuned.Read the language of the proposed legislation at: http://www.maine.gov/education/supportingschools/draftleg.html
Following the Appropriations Committee's vote on the entire budget document, including the school administrative reorganization piece of it, the budget will need to be printed (which takes several days) and then will go to the House floor for debate and vote, followed by the Senate. Current expectations are that the House will begin floor debate on Monday, June 4.
How would this legislation affect the suggested model for reorganization?
The suggested model for reorganizing school units, which was presented by Commissioner Susan Gendron on May 21, was developed based on the April 11 proposal from the Appropriations subcommittee on education. It was developed at the request of legislative leadership and envisioned to be a tool for legislators and others to better understand how the subcommittee's plan might play out. It is not a new plan.
The model was based on the criteria at the time, which was up to 80 school units, with 2,500 students in each, with exceptions for unique geographic and other situations. Those criteria are similar, but not identical, to the criteria in the current legislation. Again, the
model was intended as a tool and will continue to serve as a starting point for communities as they develop a proposal for reorganizing with other communities, should the legislation pass.View the Summary of the Model <http://www.maine.gov/education/supportingschools/model.html>
What happened to "Report A" and "Report B"? "Report A" and "Report B" were presented to the Legislature's Education Committee on Monday, May 21. Sen. Elizabeth Mitchell presented to the committee the results of the past few weeks' discussions by a bipartisan working group convened by legislative leadership – including representatives of the Appropriations and Education committees, rural legislators and others – regarding revised reorganization legislation. Their discussions were subsequent to the Appropriations subcommittee draft legislation which was presented April 11. (Report A)
Rep. Tom Saviello presented a report from the rural caucus of legislators which is largely similar, but differs in several areas, including the timeline and the number of districts. (Report B)
These two reports were not intended as competing plans. Elements of each were incorporated by the Appropriations Committee into the plan approved on Friday.
spec ed rule changes 2-1-07.doc
Governor Baldacci’s plan for regionalization of schools 2-07.doc
PTA Parent Involvement legislative initiative
NCLB Reauthoriation-summary.pdf
NCLB Reauthoriation-recommendations.pdf
Alliance for A Clean and Healthy Maine.doc
Resolve, Prohibiting the Use of Carpeting in Schools
Resolve, To Encourage the Use of Safe Chemicals in Public Schools
Maine Consortium to become a funded Center of the National Children's Study
