School Consolidation Plan: Budget Part XXXX
As passed 6 June 2007
Annotated Table of Contents (Dick Atlee)
for version available at: http://mdischools.net/20070606_Final_Amended_Consolidation.pdf
(Unannotated consolidation language of final bill can be found in file LR245299.rtf in zip archive at http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/chapdocs/PUBLIC240-RTF.zip)
[Note: the sections referred to as having been AMENDED or REPEALED come from "20-A MRSA" (http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach0sec0.html) or specific sections below);
"$" is used here in place of the standard "section" symbol to avoid computer differences; sections containing text affected by the final Amendment "T" are highlighted in yellow and italicized. ]
Modification of Definitions in previous school legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec1.html )
Sec. XXXX-1 $1 sub$20-A: Previous education unit .............................................................................. 1
Sec. XXXX-2 $1 sub$23-B: Publicly supported secondary school .......................................................... 1
Sec. XXXX-3 $1 sub$24-B: Regional school unit (abbrev below as RSU).............................................. 1
Sec. XXXX-4 $1 sub$24-C: RSU board................................................................................................ 1
Sec. XXXX-5 $1 sub$26: School administrative unit (abbrev below as SAU) -- AMENDED.................. 1
Modification of previous School Administrative District (SAD) legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach103sec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-6 $1201 (criteria for establishing an SAD) -- REPEALED................................................... 1
Sec. XXXX-7 $1202 (formation of district) -- REPEALED..................................................................... 1
Sec. XXXX-8 $1203 (issuance of a certificate of organization) -- REPEALED........................................ 2
Sec. XXXX-9 $1204 (transfer of property and assets) -- REPEALED.................................................... 2
Sec. XXXX-10 $1205 (operational data and transfer of authority) -- REPEALED................................... 2
Sec. XXXX-11 $1305-C: Mandatory budget validation and cost summary budget form........................... 2
Sec. XXXX-12 ch103 subch 6 (various types of reorganization) -- REPEALED...................................... 2
Sec. XXXX-13 ch 103-A: Chapter 103-A Regional School Units........................................................ 2
Subchapter 1: General Provisions....................................................................................................... 2
$1451. RSUs (list bill's accomplishments).............................................................................................. 2
$1452. Application of general law......................................................................................................... 3
$1453. Status of RSU (equivalent of an SAD re: state Constitution)....................................................... 3
$1454. Rules (state can adopt)............................................................................................................. 3
Subchapter 2: Organization [this is included as an "attachment" to the draft]
$1461. Formation of a regional school unit ........................................................................................... 3
1. Notice of intent.............................................................................................................................. 3
2. Reorganization planning committee................................................................................................. 3
3. Submission of plans (content, parameters)...................................................................................... 4
4. Review and approval of plans........................................................................................................ 5
5. Referendum on reorganization plans (incl. ballot wording)............................................................... 5
6. Results of referendum (what constitutes approval)........................................................................... 6
7. Certificate of organization............................................................................................................... 6
$1462. Transfer of property and assets................................................................................................. 6
1. Board of Directors......................................................................................................................... 6
2. Transfer......................................................................................................................................... 7
3. Financing of Acquired Debt........................................................................................................... 7
$1463. Operational date and transfer of authority.................................................................................. 7
1. Operational date (RSU board)....................................................................................................... 7
2. Transfer of governing authority....................................................................................................... 7
3. Transfer of school accounts............................................................................................................ 7
4. Transfer of teachers and employees................................................................................................ 7
5. Superintendent contracts................................................................................................................ 8
$1464. Collective bargaining ............................................................................................................... 8
$1465. Addition of a SAU to existing RSU......................................................................................... 11
Subchapter 3: School Governance: Program.................................................................................... 13
$1471. RSU board (size, term, compensation, superintend=secy/treas, oath, elect officers)................ 13
$1472. Methods of apportionment
(subdistrict representation, weighted votes, at-large voting, other)......................................... 14
$1473. Election.................................................................................................................................. 15
$1474. Vacancies............................................................................................................................... 17
$1475. Reapportionment (by commissioner if complaints, set up committee)........................................ 17
$1476. Powers and duties of RSU board............................................................................................ 19
$1477. Quorum.................................................................................................................................. 21
$1478. Local school committees (optional creations of RSU board)............................................... 21
$1479. Program (secondary school defined, choice, tuition contracts & expenses)............................... 21
Subchapter 4: Financing..................................................................................................................... 22
$1481. Finances (agreements between parties; can't prevent RSU)................................................ 22
$1482. Budget preparation................................................................................................................. 23
$1483. RSU budget: budget formats................................................................................................... 23
$1484. Checklist required (of voters at an RSU budge meeting).......................................................... 24
$1485. Cost center summary budget format (08-09)
(incl RSU savings/mill-reduction, approval at RSU budget meeting & referendum).................. 24
$1486. Budget validation referendum (incl. ballot wording).................................................................. 25
$1487. Failure to pass budget............................................................................................................. 27
$1488. Special budget meeting........................................................................................................... 27
$1489. RSU assessments................................................................................................................... 28
$1490. Power to borrow money (approved by voters, cap, bond info)................................................ 29
$1491. Reserve fund (capital construction/equipment)......................................................................... 31
$1492. Bid procedure........................................................................................................................ 32
$1493. Void contracts........................................................................................................................ 32
Subchapter 5: Referendum................................................................................................................ 32
$1501. RSU referendum (bonds/borrowing, site changes, 2ary school contracting, gift accept)............. 32
$1502. Method of calling a RSU referendum (incl. wording)................................................................ 33
$1503. Referendum procedures.......................................................................................................... 34
$1504. Reconsideration (circumstances for new referendum)............................................................... 35
$1505. (RSU) Bonds; notes; other...................................................................................................... 36
$1506. Debt liability (original units keep debt unless RSU takes it)....................................................... 36
Subchapter 6: Schools........................................................................................................................ 39
$1511. Supermajority vote to close school in the RSU........................................................................ 39
$1512. Closing school (referendum w/savings explicit on ballot)........................................................... 39
Modification of previous Community School District legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach105sec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-14. $1602: Formation -- REPEALED............................................................................... 40
Sec. XXXX-15. $1604: Transition to new district -- REPEALED.......................................................... 40
Sec. XXXX-16. $1701-C:. Mandatory budget validation & cost center summary budget form............... 40
Sec. XXXX-17. $1751: Additions to, dissolution of & withdrawal from a district -- REPEALED........... 40
Modification of previous School Union legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach107sec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-18 $1901: Formation -- REPEALED................................................................................... 40
Modification of previous Union Schools legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec2101.html)
Sec. XXXX-19 $2101 sub-$1: Establishment -- REPEALED................................................................ 40
Sec. XXXX-20 $2101 sub-$2: Approval -- REPEALED...................................................................... 40
Modification of previous Municipal Schools legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach111sec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-21 $2307. School budgets (post-2008 also follow above requires).................................. 40
Sec. XXXX-22: Chapter 114: Regional collaboration......................................................................... 41
$2601. Definitions................................................................................................................................. 41
$2602. Development of collaborative agreements................................................................................... 41
$2603. Collaborative agreements between previous education units........................................................ 41
Modification of previous school closings legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach202sec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-23 $4102 Voter approval required for school closing -- AMENDED................................. 42
Modifications of previous Essential Programs and Services (EPS) legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach606-Bsec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-24 $15671 sub$2 par.B: Property tax contributions to public educ'n -- AMENDED.......... 42
Sec. XXXX-25 $15680 sub$1 par.A: Per-pupil system admin expenses formula -- AMENDED ........... 42
Sec. XXXX-26 $15680 sub$1 par.B: (08-09: 5% redux per-pupil operating exps -- AMENDED ........ 43
Sec. XXXX-27 $15681-A sub$2-A: (5% special ed) Reduction for 08-09............................................ 43
Sec. XXXX-28 $15681-A sub$3-A: (5% transportation) Reduction for 08-09...................................... 43
Sec. XXXX-29 $15688 sub$2: Town share of cost based on pupil count -- AMENDED ..................... 43
Sec. XXXX-30 $15688 sub$3-A: Commissioner determines contribs of town, RSU, and state............. 43
Sec. XXXX-31 $15690 sub$1 par B: Warrant wording for required contribution -- AMENDED .......... 45
Sec. XXXX-32 $15691-A: Municipal assessment paid to a RSU........................................................... 45
Sec. XXXX-33 $15696. Penalties for nonconforming school administrative units.................................... 46
Modification of School Finance Act of 2003
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Ach608sec0.html)
Sec. XXXX-34 $15755: Entitlement (of SAUs & municipalities to approps) -- REPEALED.................. 46
Modification of previous school construction voting legislation
(see http://janus.state.me.us/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec15904.html)
Sec. XXXX-35 $15904 sub$3-A: RSU (votes in accord w/Ch. 103-A above)...................................... 46
Sec. XXXX-36 Legislative intent and policy......................................................................................... 47
1. Commissioner calls meetings in CTE regions to present info on consolidation.............................. 47
2. SAU notice of intent to develop reorganization plan w/others (8/31/07, response 9/15)................ 47
3. Reorganization planning committee..................................................................................................... 48
4. Submission of reorganization plan (12/1/07)................................................................................... 49
5. Content of reorganization plan............................................................................................................ 49
6. Parameters...................................................................................................................................... 50
7. Review plans.................................................................................................................................... 51
8. Referendum on reorganization plan (incl. ballot wording; DOE pays if before 6/10/08)................ 51
9. Results of referendum........................................................................................................................ 52
10. Certificate of organization................................................................................................................. 53
11. Result of disapproval at 1/08 referendum.......................................................................................... 53
12, Reformulation of SAD as RSU (final no later than 7/1/09)................................................................. 53
Additional Department of Education powers/responsibilities
Sec. XXXX-37 Role of the DOE (incl. adjusting EPS rates)................................................................... 54
Sec. XXXX-38 Notification of allocation of funding to SAU's................................................................ 54
Sec. XXXX-39 Adjustment for RSU start-up costs............................................................................... 54
Regional School Unit: Board terms, Transfer of property and employees from old units
Sec. XXXX-40 Initial staggered terms (RSU board).............................................................................. 54
Sec. XXXX-41 Transfer of property and assets: RSUs approved before 1/16/08................................... 55
1;2. Board of Directors; Transfer........................................................................................................ 55
3. Financing assume debts (not req'd if non-state-subsidized)............................................................... 55
Sec. XXXX-42 Transfer of property and assets: RSUs approved after 1/15/08 (timeline 1 yr later)......... 55
1;2. Board of Directors; Transfer........................................................................................................ 55
3. Financing assume debts (not req'd if non-state-subsidized)............................................................... 56
Sec. XXXX-43 Operational date and transfer of authority.............................................................. 56
1. Operational date (RSU board)........................................................................................................ 56
2. Transfer of governing authority: RSU's approved before 1/16/08..................................................... 56
3. Transfer of governing authority: RSU's approved after 1/15/08........................................................ 56
4. Transfer of school accounts............................................................................................................. 56
5. Transfer of teachers and employees................................................................................................. 57
6. Collective bargaining....................................................................................................................... 57
7. Superintendent contracts................................................................................................................. 60
Further additional Department of Education powers/responsibilities
Sec. XXXX-44 State board rules; construction rating process................................................................ 60
Sec. XXXX-45 Department to conduct review (of unfunded mandates).................................................. 60
Sec. XXXX-46 Report; validation referendum review
(DOE suggest changes after analyzing first 3 years)...................................................... 61
Sec. XXXX-47 Report; additional necessary implementing legislation (DOE suggests)............................ 62
Sec. XXXX-48 Rulemaking for efficient, high-performing districts (COE to adopt)........................... 62