WILL THIS RSU PLAN BE GOOD FOR OUR

STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY?

 

A CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO EVALUATING CONSOLIDATION PLANS

(From the Maine Small Schools Coalition, Greenville, ME 10/08)

 

    In November, December, and January, Maine citizens will vote on

  enlarging their school districts.  How should you vote at your town

  or district’s referendum?

     The questions below help you evaluate the plan that your region has  

  developed for a new Regional School Unit (RSU).  

    ASK THESE QUESTIONS AT MEETINGS ABOUT YOUR PLAN.  If your

  answers to the Four Big Questions are “No” or “It’s Not Clear”, your plan

  does not do what the reorganization law says it should.  Such plans        

  deserve a “No” vote at the upcoming referendum.  If the plan gives clear

  and detailed reasons to answer “Yes”, then vote to approve it.

 

WILL THIS PLAN SAVE US MONEY?
 
 

 


                                                    

  1. What savings will there be from combining Superintendents’ Offices? 

 

a. How were these figured?  Are they convincing?

 

b. Are these 1-year savings?  Or, will they be permanent?

 

c. Will the new consolidated Office serve your schools and citizens 

    well?

 

  1. What savings (or new costs) will there be from negotiating one “consistent” contract for teachers and, possibly, administrators and support staff (transportation, cooks, clerical, maintenance)?

 

Have these figures been calculated over the next five years?

 

  1. What other savings are advertised in the plan?  Are they reasonable?

 

 

 

4.  What new costs will likely come with the plan?  Are they included in it?

 

WILL THIS PLAN IMPROVE LEARNING FOR OUR CHILDREN?
 
 

 

 


  1. What specific steps does the plan include to strengthen programs and services for your children?  Are these realistic and supported by best practices with proven success?

 

  1. What existing programs and services will disappear from your school? 

 

 

WILL THIS PLAN GIVE US CHOICE OVER IMPORTANT DECISIONS INVOLVING OUR SCHOOL?
 
 

 

 

 


    7.    Can we determine educational programs and staffing?

 

    8.    Can we determine how much we choose to spend for our school?

 

9.            Can we determine whether to collaborate and/or combine with other schools?

 

10.        Can we determine other community uses for our school facilities?

 

 

WILL THIS PLAN BE FAIR TO ALL TOWNS AND CITIZENS?
 
 

 

 

 


11.        Does the plan fairly tax all towns in the region?  How does it “equalize” the burden of paying for schools among all towns?

 

12.        Does this plan fairly distribute funds and other resources to each school so that every school can offer students an equal opportunity to learn?  How?