MDIschools.net

School Consolidation Plan for Maine: Political history

2008 Legislation

• [Enacted and signed] PUBLIC Law, Chapter 668, (4/18/2008)
• Alternative Organizational Structures, Department of Education
• LD 2323: "An Act To Remove Barriers to the Reorganization of School Administrative Units"
• H-1028: Rep. Silsby
• H-1029: Rep. Johnson
• H-1030: Rep. Johnson
• H-1033: Rep. Finch
• H-1034: Rep. Farrington
• H-1039: Rep. Clark
• H-1046: Rep. Schatz
• S-682: Senator Raye
• LD 2314, The Governor's replacement to LD 1932
• H-1000: (Rep. MacDonald)
• S-610: (Senator Raye)
• LD 2280: An Act To Clarify and Improve the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units, Education Committee bill (3/26), [accepted by House 4/09]
• LD 2280 Minority Report (repeal) (3/26)
• H-814 Committee Amendment A: An Act To Repeal the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units
• H-857: An Act To Repeal the Laws Governing the Formation of Regional School Units (Rep. Edgecomb)
• H-916: Waiver of restriction on volunteers (Rep. Walker) [defeated by House 4/09]
• H-928: Maximum disparity among mill rates (Rep Babbidge) [defeated by House 4/09]
• H-988: Formation of regional school unit by School Union 60 and School Administrative District No. 12. (Rep. Johnson)
• S-553: Referendum on reorganization plan (Senator Mills)
• S-564: Waiver of restriction on volunteers (Senator Raye)
• S-599: Formation of regional school unit by School Union 60 and School Administrative District No. 12. (Senator Smith)
• S-603: Repeal, replace with incentives, etc. (Senator Rosen)
• LD 2281: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Reorganization of School Administrative Units
• LD 2281: Minority Report (1-year delay)
• H-815 Committee amendment A: one year delay
• H-985: Repeal (Rep. Eaton) (adopted by House, 73-59, on 4/09)
• LD 1932 chart, as amended by Senate and House, MDIschools.net (3/07) [*.pdf printable version]
• Why Regional Unions Work and Why Maine Needs Them, MDIschools.net (3/01) [*.pdf printable version]
• School Quality and Cost: What Difference Does the District Make?, Gordon Donaldson (2/11)
• Per-pupil total education cost as a function of governance structure and unit size, MDIschools.net (3/13) | GRAPH
• Per-pupil State subsidy for education as a function of governance structure and unit size, MDIschools.net (2/28) | GRAPH
• State aid as a percentage of total local school spending
• Map of relative levels of school subsidy
• School spending as a function of local income and school unit size, MDIschools.net | GRAPH
• LD 1932 (vetoed by Governor 4/07)
• LD 1932 Committee of Conference report (3/14)
• House amendments
• H-717: MacDonald amendment summary and fiscal note (corresponds to S-419: Damon and S-430: Martin) [Passed by House. 3/06]
• H-718: Carter amendment summary and fiscal note [Passed by House. 3/06]
• H-719: Pratt amendment summary and fiscal note (corresponds to to S-420: Raye) [Passed by House. 3/06]
• Senate amendments
• S-410: Committee Majority Report summary and fiscal note [Passed by Senate, 2/25]
• S-419: Damon Amendment summary and fiscal note [Passed by Senate, 2/25]
• S-420: Raye Amendment 'B' summary and fiscal note [Passed by Senate, 2/25]
• S-430: Martin Amendment 'C' summary and fiscal note [Passed by Senate, 2/25]
• Failed amendments
• S-411: Committee Minority Report summary and fiscal note
• S-414 & S-421: Raye Amendment summary and fiscal note
• S-417: Raye Amendment 'B' summary and fiscal note
• S-416: Gooley Amendment summary and fiscal note
• S-418: Mitchell Amendment summary and fiscal note
• H-675: Edgecomb Amendment summary and fiscal note
• H-677, H-678: McFadden Amendment "B" summary and fiscal note [mirrors S-414, S-421 Raye amendments]
• H-679: McFadden Amendment "A" summary and fiscal note [mirrors S-420 Raye amendment passed by Senate]
• H-680: Johnson Amendment summary and fiscal note
• H-682: Pieh Amendment summary and fiscal note
• H-683: MacDonald Amendment summary and fiscal note [mirrors S-419 Damon amendment passed by Senate]
• H-700: Babbidge Amendment summary and fiscal note
• Legislative's Education Committee To Hold Public Hearings on School District Reorganization Bills, Education Committee press release
• Summary: LR 3490: Education Committee Bill 'A' | (2/09) complete LR: (*.htm), (*.doc)
• Summary: LR 3491: Education Committee Bill 'B' | (2/09) complete LR: (*.htm), (*.doc)
• Email public hearing comments to Education Committee: schooladmin@legislature.maine.gov
• Governor's Change Package language, including new education section 'LLL' (3/05)
• Damon Amendment S-419 to LD 1932 (as published 2/07)
• Updated Regional School Union amendment (2/01)
• LD 1932 Education Committee Majority Report (1/30) (*.pdf, 1.4Mb)
• Regional School Union proposed floor amendment (1/30)
• Regional Union concept language MDIschools.net (1/18)
• Education Committee's LD 1932 Majority Report (1/15 interim version)
• Edgecomb, McFadden, Muse Minority Report - Version 2, Representative Peter Edgecomb, (01/10)
• Mount Desert Island's School Governance Model, MDIschools.net, (01/09)
• Union School Associations, (a description of the concept in the Education Committee's minority report), 01/09
• Education Committee 'Public Forum', Brian Hubbell, Local Maine Schools list, (01/04)
• Union School Associations - Another Option, Rep. Peter Edgecomb, (12/22)
• LD 1932: An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding, (11/28)
• 81 Education-related Legislative Requests for next session (compiled by N. Hudak, 10/12)
• Legislative Council Action on Bill Requests, Maine Legislative Council, (10/25)
• Commissioner Gendron's 10/17 interim report to the Appropriations Committee, MMA (audio file)
• Law, with linked table of contents, Maine Municipal Association
• Final Statutory Language as approved by Legislature, with amendment 'T' text highlighted, (6/06); [*.doc format, *.pdf format]
• Table of Contents (annotated) for the above, with sections affected by amendment 'T' highlighted  [*.doc format, *.pdf format]
• House Amendment 'T', (6/05; "XXXX" sections are relevant to consolidation)

Reorganization process

• Map of current School Unions overlaid on RSUs, MDIschools.net
• Map of RSUs proposed by 12/01 RPC submissions, MDIschools.net
• Reorganization Deadline Extended, Jennifer Pooler, DoE (1/11)
• Table of proposed RSUs with links to 12/1 submissions and Commissioner's 12/15 responses, MDIschools.net, (12/23)
• Collective Bargaining Provisions of the 2007 School Reorganization Law, Joseph Stupak, MEA (01/09)
• SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION: Chapters 1 and 2, Maine Children's Alliance
• Whither Goest School Reorganization?, Geoff Herman, Maine Townsman
• Table of RPCs and 12/01 plan submissions, MDIschools.net, (12/08)
• School Reorganization: The Municipal Clerk's Responsibilities, MMA powerpoint (*.ppt) (10/04)
• Questions and Answers from MMA Convention, Maine Municipal Association (10/04)
• Drummond Woodsum's Reorganization Plan template, 09/26/2007 (*.doc)
• MDI Schools' Regional Planning Committee page
• Navigating the DOE "template", Maine Municipal Association
• Survey Results on School Reorganization Process, Geoff Herman, Maine Municipal Association (9/14)
• Municipal Survey Comments Regarding School Reorganization Process, MMA
• Role and Responsibilities of the Reorganization Planning Committee, Maine Municipal Association, September 2007
• Union 98 convenes a regional planning committee (6/25)
• A Primer for School Reorganization, MMA, Maine Townsman, June
• Superintendent Liebow's powerpoint presentation to Union 98 staff, MDI HS, 6/14 (3Mb, *.ppt)
• Summary of Approved School Consolidation Legislation, MSMA (6/11)

DoE reorganization materials

• Getting Restarted: Resources for RPCs and School Systems Working to Reorganize, Department of Education
• Alternative Organizational Structures, Department of Education
• "Exemplary" Falmouth/SAD 51 reorganization plan
• Potential Cost Sharing Factors, DoE, (2/20/2008)
• DoE municipal cost-sharing template (*.xls), Department of Education, (11/28)
• Clarification on Key Aspects of School Administrative Reorganization, Commissioner Gendron, DoE Informational Letter, 11/13
• Reorganization Plan Checklist and Cover Page, Commissioner Gendron, DoE Informational Letter, 11/13
• Reorganization Plan Submittal Sheet (*.pdf), DoE, 11/13 | (*.doc) | (*.rtf)
• Reorganization Plan Cover Checklist (*.pdf), DoE, 11/13 | (*.doc) | (*.rtf)
• SAU and RPC Requests for Reimbursement of Legal Costs, Commissioner Gendron, DoE Informational Letter (10/26)
• Updated Activity on Notices of Intent and Responses since 9/27, DoE, (10/19)
• Summary of DOE Responses to Notices of Intent, DoE (9/25)
• Forms
• RPC Request for Funds for Miscellaneous Costs (*.rtf)
• Re: Request for Funds for Miscellaneous Costs, DoE informational letter, 8/09
• Reorganization Plan, (6/29)
• Alternative Plan, (6/29)
• Notice of Intent, (6/29), (*.doc)
• Guidelines for RPCs, (6/29)
• PowerPoint presentation for the regional meeting, DoE (6/18)
• More detailed PowerPoint given to Superintendents, DoE, (6/25-6/26)
• Facilitator options, DoE (6/18)
• DoE's Process and Summary of Reorganization, Department of Education, (6/18, revised 6/21)
• DoE's Process and Summary of Reorganization, Department of Education, (6/11)
• DoE timeline (6/11)
• Suggested model for 80 RSUs, DoE, (5/21)

2007: Final Version of LD 499 Legislation

• Final Statutory Language as approved by Legislature, with amendment 'T' text highlighted, (6/06/2007); [*.doc format, *.pdf format]
• Table of Contents (annotated) for the above, with sections affected by amendment 'T' highlighted  [*.doc format, *.pdf format]
• House Amendment 'T', (6/05; "XXXX" sections are relevant to consolidation)

2007: Earlier reports and prior drafts

• Why this bill devastates our schools, MDI Study Group, (6/03), [*.htm], [*.rtf]
• Summary of Key Points of Proposed Administrative Consolidation (5/26)
• Table of contents for draft bill (Dick Atlee, 5/31) [*.pdf]
• School Consolidation Plan Goes to Full Legislature, MMA, Legislative Bulletin, 6/01
• Report "A", Legislative 'Working Group', 5/21
• Report "B", Legislative 'Working Group', 5/21
• 'A' & 'B' Common Issues, Legislative 'Working Group', 5/21
• 'Working Group' School Consolidation Plan Summary, Legislative 'Working Group', May 16
• 'Working Group' Proposal: Matrix of Major Issues to Be Resolved, Legislative 'Working Group', May 18
• Critical issues that must be addressed, Rural Caucus, (5/10)
• Details of Latest School Regionalization Plan are Hard to Pin Down, Legislative Bulletin, MMA, 5/25
• DoE suggested timeline (5/22), MMA
Education Committee
• A "Blended" Plan for School District Reorganization, Representative Farrington, 5/02
• Draft of statutory language, 5/01, [*.rtf]
• Critique of the 'Blended Plan', MDI Consolidation Study Group, (5/15)
• Comparison of 4/11 Appropriations Subcommittee Plan and Farrington "Blended Plan, Maine School Management Association, (5/15)
• More Sensible School Regionalization Plan Emerges, MMA Legislative Bulletin, 5/04
• Majority Report (Farrington, Edgecomb), (3/21)
• Majority Report "Strengthened" (Bowman), (3/21)
• Minority Report (Mills/Burgess), (3/21)
Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee
• Subcommittee's final report, (4/11) and proposed timeline, (4/11)
• Subcommittee's DRAFT legislation replacing section MM of LD 499, (4/11, not officially released) [*.doc]
• LD 499: budget bill
• Appropriations Subcommittee's School Consolidation Plan, MMA Legislative Bulletin, (*.pdf, 4/13) [*.htm version]
• Summary of Appropriation Subcommittee's School Consolidation Proposal - April 10, 2007 Draft, MSMA, 4/19
• DoE's information page and summary, (4/11)
LD 464: An Act To Reform Public Education by Encouraging Regional Approaches, Senator Mitchell
LD 804: An Act To Ensure Responsible Government Spending and Investment, Senator Edmunds, (co-sponsor: Senator Damon)

Positions and Critiques

Save Our Schools Petition, MDIschools.net
Sample Talking Points, Dick Atlee, Local Maine Schools, 4/13 [*.doc download] | [ button / bumper sticker]
A position in support of our schools, School Union 98, Mount Desert Island, Town of Mount Desert, Town of Cranberry Isles, Town of Bar Harbor, Town of Tremont, Town of Southwest Harbor. [*.doc]
Teachers' Association position, Bar Harbor Teachers' Association. [*.doc]
Coalition Position, MMA, MEA, Maine Chamber of Commerce, March 20
Gordon Donaldson

• The Sinclair Act: An Uncertain Legacy, Gordon A. Donaldson, Jr., 2007
• What can be centralized and what must remain decentralized in an effective educational organization?, Gordon A. Donaldson, Jr., January, 2007
• Getting Our Facts Straight to Make Maine's Schools Better, Gordon Donaldson, University of Maine, February 21, 2007
  
• New School Plan Must Balance, Not Silence, Voices, Gordon A. Donaldson, Jr., March 1, 2007
• Bold or Blind?: Update on the State's Plan to Centralize School Control, Gordon A. Donaldson, Jr., March 18, 2007
• School Unions in Maine: A Viable Alternative, Gordon A. Donaldson, Jr., April 2, 2007
Maine Department of Education
• School Administrative Reorganization, Department of Education
Maine State Legislature
• Maine School Regionalization page, Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library
• Legislature's School District Regionalization Proposal Hearings page
Maine Municipal Association
• The Governor's Proposed School Consolidation Plan, MMA Legislative Bulletin, January 12, 2007.
• Consolidated Hearing on Consolidating Schools, MMA Legislative Bulletin, February 2, 2007
• Education Committee's School Reform, Legislative Bulletin, Maine Municipal Association, March 9, 2007
• School Consolidation: The Dieter's Fable, MMA Legislative Bulletin, 3/16/2007
• Finding the Sweet Spot, Legislative Bulletin, Maine Municipal Association, 3/23/2007
• School Consolidation Plan, Legislative Bulletin, MMA, 3/30/2007
• Appropriations Subcommittee's School Consolidation Plan, MMA Legislative Bulletin, 4/13
• More Sensible School Regionalization Plan Emerges, MMA, Legislative Bulletin, 5/04
• Details of Latest School Regionalization Plan are Hard to Pin Down, Legislative Bulletin, MMA, 5/25
• DoE suggested timeline (5/22), MMA
• School Consolidation Plan Goes to Full Legislature, MMA, Legislative Bulletin, (6/01)
Maine School Management Association
• Comparison of 4/11 Appropriations Subcommittee Plan and Farrington "Blended Plan, MSMA, (5/15)
• Summary of Appropriation Subcommittee's School Consolidation Proposal - April 10, 2007 Draft, MSMA, 4/19
• Questions and Answers About the Governor's School Consolidation Proposal, MSMA, January 19, 2007
Maine School Boards Association
• MSBA public hearing testimony, February 5, 2007
• Position Statement, MSBA, January 19, 2007
• Resolution, MSBA, January 19, 2007
• Questions Concerning LSRS Plan, Maine School Board Association, 1/23/2007
Maine School Superintendents Association
• MSSA public hearing testimony, February 5, 2007
• Position Paper on School Consolidation, Regionalization, and Collaboration. MSSA, January 19, 2007
• Principles Concerning Consolidation, Regionalization, and Collaboration. MSSA, January 19, 2007
• Cost Savings or Unsupported Assumptions?, Funding Committee, Maine School Superintendents Association
Maine Education Association's position page
• Regionalization or hostile take over?, MEA, 4/26
• Consolidation: Controversy and Confusion, MEA
• MEA's Guidelines for Regionalization, Mark L. Gray, MEA
• Q&A on School Regionalization, MEA, 2/06/2007
• MEA's Talking Points
• MEA Board of Directors Resolution
• Bargaining and the Regionalization Proposal
• An Act to Ensure Responsible Government Spending and Investment , Maine Education Association in coalition with Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Municipal Association, Maine Hospital Association, and the Maine Service Center Coalition.
  MEA's summary of the above legislation
Maine Heritage Policy Center
• Education Service Districts: Achieving school administrative cost savings while protecting local control and parental involvement, Stephen L. Bowen, January 25, 2006
• School Administration Cost Savings Attainable without Sacrificing Local Control and Parental Involvement (press release)
Island Institute
• Talking points for February hearing, The Island Institute

Planning and background

• Effect of EPS funding as a function of school size, Ralph Chapman, 4/22
• Explanatory notes, Ralph Chapman
The Learning State, Maine State Board of Education, September 2006.
Charting Maine's Future, Brookings Institution for GrowSmart Maine, October 2006.
Pursuing Administrative Efficiency for Maine's Schools, Gordon A. Donaldson, University of Maine, 2006.
Maine Children's Alliance
• Educational Initiative: "A Case for Cooperation" (Complete report), MCA, August 30, 2006. (*.pdf)
• "A Case for Cooperation": Summary of key points, MCA (*.doc)
Driving More Money into the Classroom: The Promise of Shared Services, Deloitte Research (11/2005)
MDI school performance reports, January 1-5, 2007
• MDI students shine on SATs, Greg Fish, Bar Harbor Times
• Making the grade, Greg Fish, Bar Harbor Times
• Island scores among best in state, Victoria Wallack, Mount Desert Islander
Mathematics scores rising; Reading among highest in nation
• NCES Maine Education Data Profile
Grade 4 Math: Maine: 241; US: 237
Grade 8 Math: Maine: 281; US: 278
Grade 4 Reading: Maine: 225; US: 217
Grade 8 Reading: Maine: 270; US: 260
Grade 4 Science: Maine: 161; US: 148
Grade 8 Science: Maine: 160; US: 149
Grade 4 Writing: Maine: 158; US: 153
Grade 8 Writing: Maine: 157; US: 152
More background and resources
• A Look to the Future: Maine Education Reform, Michael Fullan & Nancy Watson, Toronto, December 2006.
• America's Best Public Schools, Setting the Maine Course, Barbara Merrill, 2006
• PDK/Gallup poll of the public's attitude toward public schools, September, 2006.
• Is Bigger Better?, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, Sept. 2006
• Report to the School District Redistricting Commission, Arizona Legislative Council, March 15, 2006
• Education on a human scale, Mike Corbett, Acadia University. 2006.
• School District Consolidation and Public School Efficiency, Texas Public Policy Foundation. 2006
• Improving Educational Resource Allocation in Maine, Philip Trostel & Catherine Reilly, Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, February 2005
• Rural School Consolidation Report, NREA Consolidation Task Force, April 2005
• Does School Consolidation Cut Costs?, William Duncombe & John Yinger, Syracuse University. 2001
• Diseconomies of school district size, Galles, Gary M.; Sexton, Robert L., Journal of Social, Political and Economic Studies, Summer 1995
• Rural School Consolidation in New York State, 1795-1993: A Struggle for Control, Thomas J. Pugh, Syracuse University. 1994
• Revitalizing Maine's Service Centers, John Melrose, Maine Policy Review, 2003
• Cost and Characteristics of Maine's Higher Performing Public Schools, David Silvernail, Maine Education Policy Research Institute. Feb 2006
• Cost/Size of Maine High Schools, 2004 (graph), David Silvernail
• Fiscal Analysis of the Report of the Select Panel on Revisioning Education in Maine, David Silvernail, Center for Education Policy. Aug 2006
• Resources on School and District Size, Gordon Donaldson, February 2007
• Legislature's Education Committee
  
  • Education Committee's Majority Report (Farrington, Edgecomb), March 21
  • Education Committee's Majority Report "Strengthened" (Bowman), March 21
  • Education Committee's Minority Report (Mills/Burgess), March 21
  • Reorganization Timeline (Gendron), March 23
  • Letter reporting to Appropriations Committee, March 8, 2007
  • Chart of proposal's components with Committee's votes, March 8, 2007
  • Department of Education's detail of projected savings through Governor's plan, March 8, 2007
  • Senator Mills' 'minority report' proposal to Appropriations, March 8, 2007
  • "Spencer-Herman" draft, Education Committee in collaboration with MSMA and MMA, March 5, 2007
  • Summary of Education Committee's 'Straw Votes', Legislative Office of Policy and Legal Analysis, March 1, 2007
  • 'Components'of Education Committee's regionalization bill, Legislative Office of Policy and Legal Analysis, February 27, 2007
  Previous proposed legislation
  Side-by-side comparisons of proposals, (courtesy of Nancy Hudak and MEA), February 26, 2007
  Comparison of Proposals to Restructure Central Office Administration (*.ppt), Owen Maurais, February 8, 2007
  Summary of legislative proposals, MDIschools.net, 2/03/2007.
  • The Governor's proposed legislation: An Act To Create Learning Communities in Maine [77 page *.pdf]
  • Education Subcommittee of Appropriations: plan in progress, 3/24
  • LD 370, Resolve, To Reduce the Number of School Administrative Units and Gain Administrative Efficiencies, Senator Turner
  >
  • LD 835: An Act To Encourage School Administrative Units To Collaborate with Other School Administrative Units, Representative Silsby
  • LD 853: An Act To Encourage Efficiency in School Administration, Senator Mills
  • LD 947: Resolve, To Prepare Students for Success in the Twenty-first Century, Senator Rotundo
  LD 976: An Act To Encourage Cost Efficiency in Administration of and Contribution to Tax Burden Reduction by School Districts, Representative Woodbury

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