Small Schools Coalition

Dick Gould, Director 280-0757

Scott K Porter, President 255-6585

Strategy to Block Appropriations Consolidation Proposal

• We need to promote Representative David Farrington’s "Blended" Consolidation Plan. This is the mildest plan that is still on the table. A plan will eventually be passed by the legislature. Things will not stay as they are now.
• Representative Farrington's Plan has the following components that will be helpful to rural Schools:

1. Local control is preserved.

2. There is an opt-out provision.            .

3. School Unions are not abolished.

4. 1200 students are required in Rural Maine to receive full system administrative funding with geographic isolation exceptions. 2500 student requirement in York and Cumberland Counties. This is a two-tier system.

*School Districts that do not meet the number of required students will receive a penalty (50% reduction in system administration). No plan will pass through without an administrative penalty.

*Necessary Action Steps

Action Step 1

* Call Augusta to voice your opinion. Be brief. Simply say; "1 oppose the Appropriations School Consolidation Proposal and support Representative Farrington's "Blended" Consolidation Plan".

Senators: 1-800-423-6900

Representatives: 1-800-423-2900

Action Step 2

Write a brief (only four or five lines) "regular" mail message and send it to your Legislators and members of the Education Committee and Appropriations Committee.

Addresses:

Senator's Name

Senate of Maine

3 State House Station

Augusta ME 04333-0003

Representative's Name

House of Representatives

2 State House Station

Augusta ME 04333-0002

Leadership:

Senators: Beth Edmonds, Elizabeth Mitchell, John Martin, Richard Rosen, Carol Weston

Representatives: Glenn Cummings, Hannah Pingree, Sean Faircloth, Joshua Tardy, Robert Crosthwaite

Education Committee:

Senators: Peter Bowman, Elizabeth Mitchell, Peter Mills

Representatives: Jacqueline Norton, Edward Finch, Elaine Makas, David Farrington, Charles Harlow, Patricia Sutherland, Peter Edgecomb, Howard McFadden, Roberta Muse, Meridith Strang Burgess

Appropriations Committee:

Senators: Margaret Rotundo, John Martin, Karl Turner

Representatives: Jeremy Fischer, Margaret Craven, Janet Mills, Emily Cain, Linda Valentino, David Webster, Sawin Millett, Patrick Flood, John Robinson, Jayne Giles

Action Step 3

Sign the on-line petition to support local schools: Save our Maine Schools.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Consolidation/

Everybody needs to get involved; a decision will be made soon!