Date: Thu, May 1, 2008 at 8:51 AM

Re: Open invitation from the MDI RPC

To: Trenton and Lamoine RPC members: Judy Sproule, Gary Webber, Kathleen Rybarz, Faith Perkins

Cc: MDI RPC members

From: Brian Hubbell <sparkflashgap@gmail.com>

Judy, Gary, Kathleen, and Faith,

Following up on the discussion at the MDI RPC meeting last night about the possibility of Trenton and Lamoine joining with the Union 98 towns in a reorganized school district, I want to make sure that you understand the position of the MDI RPC.

First and foremost, the Mount Desert Island High School has an overarching interest in retaining its relationship with Trenton and Lamoine as your primary secondary school.  Further, we presume that, to all, this clearly represents a mutually beneficial arrangement that we each can agree serves all our students and taxpayers well and, as such, is a relationship well worth working to maintain.

Beyond that, the Union 98 towns that comprise the MDI RPC can make no assumptions about what course of action Trenton and Lamoine will now decide best serves their own interests in school reorganization. Therefore, having made the initial invitation to your towns last summer, the MDI RPC will continue with its own reorganization work following the model which we believe you well understand.

Although Trenton and Lamoine last fall opted instead to submit a reorganization plan with the other towns of Union 92, if this spring's changes in the law cause you to reconsider and decide that your towns would be better served by joining with Union 98's towns on MDI, please consider the door here still open -- both now and in the future. 

Throughout this process, we expect that the MDI RPC will take seriously its plan to implement and maintain a coherent and consistent vision for all of our schools.  But, at least from our position, we do not believe that represents a barrier that would prevent our system expanding to include Trenton and Lamoine if that is the engagement that your citizens decide to pursue.

We welcome continuing the discussion.  Just let us know your needs and intentions and we will always try to be similarly clear and forthright in responding.

Brian Hubbell,

MDI RPC vice-chair