[DRAFT]

Mount Desert Island School System

Reorganization Plan

School  Administrative Units (SAUs) submitting: Bar Harbor School Department, Mount Desert School Department, Southwest Harbor School Department, Tremont School Department, CSD #7 (Mount Desert Island High School), SAD #76 (Swans Island School), Cranberry Isles School Department, Frenchboro School Department

Contact information:  Gail Marshall (RPC Chair) 244-7219, Robert Liebow (School Union 98 Superintendent) 288-5011 ext. 323

Date submitted by SAUs:  , 2008

Proposed Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) operational date:  July 1, 2009

1. The units of school administration to be included in the proposed AOS.

Bar Harbor School Department

Mount Desert School Department

Southwest Harbor School Department

Tremont School Department

Frenchboro School Department

SAD 76 (Swan’s Island School)

CSD 7 (Mount Desert Island High School)

Cranberry Isles School Department

2. The size, composition and apportionment of the governing body.

The superintending school committee of each participating town shall designate three individuals from its membership to serve on the AOS Board. 

3.  The method of voting of the governing body.

Each AOS board member has an equal vote

4. The composition, powers and duties of local school committees or AOS board

Local school committees govern K-8 schools in the following municipalities: Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Cranberry Isles, Swan’s Island, Frenchboro.

The local school committee members are elected in accordance with the procedures applicable to the election of school committee members in municipal school units: 

TOPIC:	RSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS:	LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE:	ALTERNATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE DETAILS
ELECTION OF MEMBERS	EACH TOWN WILL ELECT BETWEEN 3 AND 6 MEMBERS TO THE RSU BOARD WHO WILL SERVE ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED VOTING WEIGHT PROCEDURES OF THE RSU AT RSU BOARD MEETINGS	ALL ELECTED RSU BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND ONLY RSU ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WILL SERVE ALSO AS MEMBERS OF LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEES WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY FROM WHICH THEY ARE ELECTED.	The superintending school committee of each participating town shall designate three individuals from its membership to serve on the AOS Board.
OVERALL SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES	OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF the Mount Desert Island High School and the Mount Desert Island Regional School Unit’s Central Office	OVERSEE RESPECTIVE LOCAL K-8 SCHOOLS	OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF  the Mount Desert Island School System’s Central Office
BUDGETING	ANNUALLY DEVELOP THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGETS AND THE MDI HIGH SCHOOL BUDGETS AND REPORT THE COMBINED RSU K-8 BUDGETS OF ALL SCHOOLS TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE) AS ONE K-12 BUDGET FOR THE RSU.	ANNUALLY DEVELOP RESPECTIVE K-8 BUDGET. REPORT APPROVED BUDGET TO THE RSU BOARD FOR REPORTING TO DOE.	Annually adopt and obtain approval for the central office budget as required by law
REFERENDUM PROCEDURES (CURRENT STATUTORY TIMELINES WILL NECCESITATE MULTIPLE REFERENDA.  A SINGLE REFERENDUM IS PREFERABLE)	CONDUCT ANNUAL RSU BUDGET MEETING FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGETS, OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR THE BUDGET, AND, IF REQUIRED, FACILITATE A REFERENDUM ON THAT BUDGET ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED TIMELINES IN THE LAW	FACILITATE PREPARATION AND APPROVAL OF RESPECTIVE K-8 ANNUAL BUDGET WARRANT BY THE RELEVANT LEGISLATIVE BODY. IF REQUIRED, FACILITATE A MUNICIPAL REFERENDUM TO VALIDATE THAT BUDGET ACCORDING TO THE ESTABLISHED TIMELINES IN THE LAW. REPORT THE RESULTS TO THE RSU BOARD.	As required by law
LOCAL ASSESSMENTS	ASSESS MEMBER MUNICIPALITIES OF THE RSU FOR CENTRAL OFFICE COSTS BY A FORMULA [STILL TO BE DETERMINED BY THE RPC] AND HIGH SCHOOL COSTS BY ESTABLISHED FORMULA OR SUBSEQUENT FORMULA MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BY THE MEMBER TOWNS	WITHIN EACH RESPECTIVE MUNICIPALITY ASSESS THE K-8 SCHOOL'S PORTION OF THE RSU BUDGET AND FORWARD THAT AMOUNT TO THE RSU	Assess each SAU for their central office costs in accordance with the agreed upon formula
OVERALL BUDGET REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING	MAINTAiN RECORDS FOR THE RSU COMBINED K-12 BUDGET AND SUBMIT REQUIRED REPORTS TO DOE RELATED TO K-12 BUDGET.  DEPOSIT, WITHDRAW AND INVEST ALL RSU FUNDS. PREPARE AND SUBMIT TO RESPECTIVE LOCAL BOARDS MONTHLY K-8 BUDGET STATUS REPORTS.	RECEIVE RESPECTIVE MONTHLY K-8 BUDGET STATUS REPORTS FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND AUTHORIZE VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT	Provide business functions including accounting, reporting, payroll, financial management, insurance purchase and auditing
BALANCES AND CARRYOVER FUNDS	CONTROL BALANCES AND CARRYOVER FUNDS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE ACCOUNTS AND PROVIDE RECORD KEEPING AND ANNUAL REPORT FOR ALL K-8 SCHOOLS’ BALANCES AND CARRYOVER FUNDS	RECEIVE AN ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO BE USED IN LOCAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT	See overall budgeting process above
GENERAL RESERVES	ESTABLISH AND OVERSEE GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVES FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND PROVIDE BOOKKEEPING AND MANAGEMENT OF ANY K-8 RESERVES	AT THE DISCRETION OF THE LOCAL BOARD, ESTABLISH and oversee GENERAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION RESERVES FOR RESPECTIVE K-8 SCHOOLS.	See overall budgeting process above
BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT OWNERSHIP AND MAINTENANCE	MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE  BUILDING(S), PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT	IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY, MAINTAIN OWNERSHIP OF RESPECTIVE K-8 SCHOOL BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND EQUIPMENT	Maintain ownership of central office property and equipment
CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION PROJECTS	AUTHORIZE AND ADMINISTER RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE	AUTHORIZE AND ADMINISTER RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AT RESPECTIVE K-8 SCHOOL	??????
DEBT RESPONSIBILITY	Through established cost-sharing formula OR SUBSEQUENT FORMULA MUTUALLY AGREED UPON BY THE MEMBER TOWNS, assume responsibility FOR existing HIGH SCHOOL DEBT. Approve and administer future assumption of voter-approved High School and Central Office debts.	Assume RESPECTIVE responsibility for existing debt for K-8 schools, AND Approve and administer future voter-approved K-8 SCHOOL DEBT	None at this time.  Approve and administer any future assumption of voter-approved Central Office debts
SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS	MAINTAIN HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS AND ADMINISTER K-8 SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS OR OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS	Oversee respective K-8 SCHOLARSHIP OR OTHER SPECIAL FUNDS	None at this time
STUDENT ACTIVITY FUNDS	MAINTAIN AND CONTROL HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITY FUNDS. ADMINISTER K-8 ACTIVITY FUNDS	Oversee  respective K-8 SCHOOL ACTIVITY FUNDS	None at this time
FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS	ADMINISTER ALL FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT FUNDS	Oversee respective K-8 FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS FUNDS	ADMINISTER ALL FEDERAL AND STATE GRANT FUNDS not overseen by local boards
FILING OF REQUIRED STATE REPORTS ETC…	RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING ALL REQUIRED RSU STATE REPORTS	RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMISSION OF ALL DATA REQUIRED FOR STATE REPORTING TO THE RSU CENTRAL OFFICE FOR FILING PURPOSES	RESPONSIBLE FOR FILING ALL REQUIRED STATE REPORTS
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES (HIRING/REHIRING/OR TERMINATION)	ALL STAFF WILL BECOME RSU EMPLOYEES.  THE RSU BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIRING AND ALL SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES FOR ALL RSU PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, RSU POLICY, AND NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS	MAKE BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE RSU BOARD REGARDING K-8 EMPLOYMENT.	THE AOS BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIRING AND ALL SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES FOR ALL AOS PERSONNEL ACCORDING TO STATE LAW, AND AOS POLICY
SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION OF STAFF	ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR ALL RSU EMPLOYEES	SUPERVISE RESPECTIVE K-8 STAFF ACCORDING TO THE RSU-DEVELOPED PROCEDURES	ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR ALL AOS EMPLOYEES
NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS	THERE WILL BE ONE RSU CONTRACT WITH THE RSU TEACHERS.  THE RSU BOARD WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGOTIATING SUCCESSOR AGREEMENTS WITH THE NEW RSU TEACHER'S ASSOCIATION	NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA	RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSEEING THE NEGOTIATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF CONSISTENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS (BAR HARBOR SUPPORT CONTRACT???)
STAFF SENIORITY AND REDUCTION IN FORCE PROCEDURES	TO BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS	TO BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS	N/A
PERSONNEL RECORDS	ALL PERSONNEL RECORDS WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE RSU CENTRAL OFFICE	NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA	ALL PERSONNEL RECORDS WILL BE MAINTAINED BY THE AOS CENTRAL OFFICE
ASSIGNMENT OF STAFF TO SCHOOLS	DETERMINE HIGH SCHOOL STAFF ASSIGNMENTS	DETERMINE K-8 SCHOOL STAFF ASSIGNMENTS	N/A
ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO SCHOOLS	ASSIGNMENT FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12	DETERMINED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH K-8 SCHOOL	N/A
ESTABLISHING SCHOOL GRADE STRUCTURES	DETERMINE HIGH SCHOOL GRADE STRUCTURE	DETERMINE RESPECTIVE K-8 GRADE STRUCTURE	N/A
STAFFING PATTERNS AND CLASS SIZE	DETERMINE HIGH SCHOOL STAFFING GUIDELINES	DETERMINE RESPECTIVE K-8 STAFFING GUIDELINES	N/A
PROGRAMMING DECISIONS	DETERMINE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMMING DECISIONS	DETERMINE RESPECTIVE K-8 PROGRAMMING DECISIONS	N/A
CURRICULUM DECISIONS AND SELECTION OF EDUCATION MATERIALS	APPROVE THE RSU K-12 CURRICULUM AND APPROVE THE SELECTION OF ALL 9-12 EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS	APPROVE THE SELECTION OF ALL EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AT RESPECTIVE K-8 SCHOOLS THAT WILL SUPPORT THE APPROVED K-12 CURRICULUM	APPROVE THE AOS K-12 CURRICULUM
POLICY MAKING	Develop, approve, and modify all High School, Central Office, and RSU-level policies	REVIEW, REASONABLY ADAPT AS LOCALLY NECESSARY, adopt and enforce RSU-level policies
			ADOPT CONSISTENT SCHOOL POLICIES
SCHOOL CLOSURE	MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER THE FUTURE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL OFFICE	MAINTAIN CONTROL AT respective  K-8 SCHOOLS	N/A
EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS	CONTROL HIGH SCHOOL EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS	CONTROL respective K-8 extracurricular programs	N/A
EXPULSION POWERS	RESPONSIBLE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXPULSION HEARINGS	RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPECTIVE K-8 STUDENT EXPULSION HEARINGS	N/A
TRANSPORTATION	RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION BEYOND DAY TO DAY TRANSPORT OF STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL	RESPONSIBLE FOR RESPECTIVE K-8 TRANSPORTATION AND DAY-TO-DAY TRANSPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL CHILDREN TO AND FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL	ADMINISTER TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FOR ALL AOS MEMBERS
BUS PURCHASES	Oversee HIGH SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES AND ADMINISTER ALL RSU BUS PURCHASES	Oversee RESPECTIVE K-8 BUS PURCHASES AND BUDGET AT THE K-8 SCHOOL LEVEL FOR SCHOOL BUS PURCHASES or other transportation contracts and leases	SEE TRANSPORTATION
LUNCH PROGRAMS	Oversee HIGH SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM, BOOKKEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RSU SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS	Oversee respective K-8 lunch programs. Provide all necessary bookkeeping assistance to RSU central office.	LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONTROL BUT CENTRAL OFFICE WILL ADMINISTER BOOKKEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS ETC…	Oversee acceptance of GIFTS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND TO THE CENTRAL OFFICE. Oversee  administration of ALL K-8 GIFTS THROUGH THE RSU CENTRAL OFFICE	MANAGE gifts dedicated to respective K-8 SCHOOL	OVERSEE ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS TO THE CENTRAL OFFICE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ANNUAL SCHOOL CALENDAR	DEVELOP AND APPROVE THE K-12 SCHOOL CALENDARS FOR ALL RSU SCHOOLS	STRIVE FOR UNIFORMITY, BUT MAKE UNIQUE CHANGES as necessary TO THE RSU CALENDAR and adopt for respective K-8 school.	ADOPT CONSISTENT SCHOOL CALENDARS
INSURANCES	Oversee and maintain ALL INSURANCE POLICIES	NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA	Oversee and maintain ALL INSURANCE POLICIES
ASSORTED OUTSIDE CONTRACTS (HEAT/SNOW ETC…)	Oversee OUTSIDE CONTRACTS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CENTRAL OFFICE	Oversee OUTSIDE CONTRACTS AT respective K-8 school, combining contracts with other RSU members wherever advantageouS.	Oversee OUTSIDE CONTRACTS FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE
LEASE AGREEMENTS	Oversee LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CENTRAL OFFICE	Oversee LEASE AGREEMENTS AT respective K-8 school, combining lease agreements with other RSU members wherever advantageous.	Oversee LEASE AGREEMENTS FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE
DISTRIBUTION OF STATE SUBSIDY	Re-allocate STATE RSU SUBSIDY TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS following policy [DETERMINED BY THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE]		Re-allocate STATE SUBSIDY TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS BY FORMULA TO BE ESTABLSIHED
REDISTRIBUTION OF POWERS BETWEEN THE RSU BOARD AND THE LOCAL  SCHOOL COMMITTEES	TO BE PLANNED AT THE RSU BOARD LEVEL AND THEN SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL IN EACH AND EVERY AFFECTED TOWN.  FAILURE TO WIN APPROVAL IN ANY AFFECTED TOWN CONSTITUTES A VETO		TO BE PLANNED AT THE AOS BOARD LEVEL AND THEN SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS FOR APPROVAL IN EACH AND EVERY AFFECTED TOWN.  FAILURE TO WIN APPROVAL IN ANY AFFECTED TOWN CONSTITUTES A VETO

5.  The disposition of real and personal school property.

See number 4, above.

6.  The disposition of existing school indebtedness and lease-purchase obligations if the parties elect not to use the provisions of Section 1506 regarding the disposition of debt obligations.

See number 4, above.

7.  The assignment of school personnel contracts, school collective bargaining agreements and other school contractual obligations.

See number 4, above.           

8.  The disposition of existing school funds and existing financial obligations, including undesignated fund balances, trust funds, reserve funds and other funds appropriated for school purposes.

See number 4, above.           

9.  A transition plan that addresses the development of a budget for the first school year of the reorganized unit and interim personnel policies.

The budgets for the first school year of the reorganized unit will be developed by the respective governing authorities as described in number 4, above.

Personnel policies will be developed by the AOS board and adopted by local boards as described in number 4, above.

10.  Documentation of the public meeting or public meetings held to prepare or review the reorganization plan.

A public forum was held on November 14, 2007, at Mount Desert Island High School.  Minutes of the meeting are attached as Exhibit 10-A          .

11.  An explanation of how units that approve the reorganization plan will proceed if one or more of the proposed members of the regional school unit fail to approve the plan.

If the plan is rejected by the voters in any of the following municipalities: Mount Desert, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, or Tremont, the region shall not be formed under this plan, and the SAUs shall re-start the process to form an AOS with the same or other SAUs.  Rejection of this plan by any of the following municipalities: Swan’s Island, Cranberry Isles, or Frenchboro, shall not prevent formation of the new RSU.             

12.  An estimate of the cost savings to be achieved by the formation of a regional school unit and how these savings will be achieved.

Cost savings from this plan ??????????.

13. Other matters determined to be necessary. 

13-A.  Election of initial board of directors.

N/A

13-B.  Tuition Contracts and School Choice

1.         Tuition Contracts

The following tuition contracts are in existence as of the date of this plan between the governing bodies of the SAUs listed below and MDI High School for students in grades 9-12.  All contracts are in effect as 7-1-05 and expire on 6-30-2010:

1. Hancock School Committee

2. MSAD 26 School Board

3. Lamoine School Committee

4. Surry School Committee

5. Trenton School Committee

6. Otis/Mariaville School  Committee

Each of the above tuition contracts will be maintained by the Mount Desert Island Regioanl School District unless terminated prior to the operational date.

2.         School Choice

The following SAUs offer some or all of their students a choice of which school to attend:

Grade levels in the existing SAUs that have choice of schools as of the operational date shall continue to have the same choices in the AOS.

13-C.  Claims and Insurance

Continuity of claims and insurance shall be ensured with the assistance of counsel.

13-D.  Fewer than 2,500 students

As approved by Letter of Intent, the proposed AOS will serve fewer than 2500 students and qualifies for an exemption to that requirement for the following reasons:

 (a) The special conditions of island geography limit the practical boundaries for regionalization.

(b) Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition and nature of communities in the regional school unit;

(c) Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized;

(d) Transportation;

(e) Population density of less than 100 per square mile; and/or

(f) Other unique circumstances including the need to preserve existing or developing relationships, meet the needs of students, maximize educational opportunities for students and ensure equitable access to rigorous programs for all students.