MDIschools.net

Summary of proposed legislation for Maine school redistricting

LD 499, Part MM: An Act To Create Learning Communities in Maine; Governor Baldacci

• Dissolves existing school administrative units and replaces them with 26 regional boards.
• Funds laptops, provides some college tuition and leadership training.

LD 370: Resolve, To Reduce the Number of School Administrative Units and Gain Administrative Efficiencies; Senator Turner

• Existing school administrative units with fewer than 2000 students are dissolved.
• 11-member state-appointed commission determines ~75 new consolidated school districts of 2000 - 2200 students. (Union 98 = ~1700; Hancock County = ~7200). Proposal establishes regional and state "business entities" to offer administrative services such as payroll, transportation, and purchasing.

LD 464: An Act To Reform Public Education by Encouraging Regional Approaches; Senator Mitchell, Maine Children's Alliance

• Existing administrative units remain, may voluntarily consolidate.
• Creates funding for 26 regional alliances of at least 3000 students (Union 98 = ~1700; Hancock County = ~7200) to create a plan for group purchasing, administrative streamlining, and regional curriculum for ratification by the region's voters. Participation in regional cooperative is optional, allowing existing administrative units to otherwise continue, join, or withdraw.

LR 1148: An Act to Encourage School Administrative Units to Collaborate with other School Administrative Units; Representative Silsby

• Existing administrative units remain, may voluntarily consolidate.
• Existing school administrative units form regional cooperatives of at least 2800 students (Union 98 = ~1700, Hancock County = ~7200) to be approved by state commission. Proposal establishes a state-appointed commission and fund for "Efficient Delivery of Educational Services". Regional cooperatives apply to commission for incentive funds. Commission may implement reorganization for regions that do not reach state-established benchmarks for cost savings.

LR 1386: Regional delivery of educational administrative services; Senator Edmonds, Maine State Chamber, MEA, MMA, Maine Hospital Association and Maine Service Centers Coalition

• May lead to consolidation. Existing administrative units remain for present.
• With the goal of reducing expenses by ten percent, this proposal forms 26 politically-appointed regional planning groups to analyze existing administrative services within the region and to recommend improvements to existing school administrative units for them to implement by July 2009.

LR 1415: An Act to Increase Efficiency in School Administration; Senator Mills, Maine Heritage Policy Center, Maine Children's Alliance

• Abolishes school unions. Requires all administrative units to form school districts of at least 1300 students. (Union 98=1700)
• Requires school administrative units to join one of 22 new state-chartered educational cooperatives which assume responsibility for specified areas of administration. Lengthens school year from 180 days to 190 days.

LR 1619: Bipartisan School Redistricting Panel established; Senator Rotundo, Maine Board of Education

• Dissolves existing school boards.
• Establishes an 11 member state-appointed redistricting panel. The panel is charged with drawing ~65 new administrative districts of 3000-4000 students (U98 = ~1700; Hancock County = ~7200) by December 2007 and presenting a plan for the legislature to adopt without substantial change.
• Creates an investment account with $200 for every student in the state for use at any Maine college. Provides additional need-based financial aid up to 50% of in-state college tuition for Maine high school graduates for two years and 50% for an additional two years at community colleges for students who commit to teaching for three years after graduation. Provides leadership training for teachers and administrators and year-round "wireless devices" for 9-12 graders.