[Local-Maine-Schools] Rural Caucus meeting

[RICHARD GOULD]

Hi everyone.
    Scott Porter, Pete Johnson, and I attended the Rural Caucus this morning.  The purpose of the meeting was to have the Caucus members express their concerns with the Subcommittee's draft bill.
The following are some of the major concerns.  There are more, but I tried to select the major items discussed.
    1.  Do not like to have the State Board having approval powers.
    2.  Time table totally unrealistic.
    3.  Loss of local control (school boards).
    4.  Lack of local vote to approve the consolidation plan.  You might call it the lack of an opt out plan.
    5.  Elimination of School Unions.
    6.  Size districts being set at 2500 students.
    7.  Lack of choice of partners.
    8.  Issue of the 36million dollar hole in the budget.

These are in not particular order.  I am going down to the Rural Caucus tomorrow.  I am also meeting with Libby Mitchell.  I will also be meeting with David Connerty-Marin in the morning.

The MSSC Board of Directors is meeting on Tuesday, May 1 at Shibles Hall in the ATM room at 11:30 until 1:30 to lay out our strategy in the coming days.  If any of you would like to attend, please let me know.  We will be joined from Frenchville and Van Buren by the ATM so if any of you in Aroostook would like to join us, contact Fern Desjardins or Clayton Belanger.

Keep writing to the legislators.  I talked to Rep Saviello today and he told me is getting letters thanking him for his letter to the editor. 

I was asked by a couple of legislators today where Sen. Damon stands on this issue.  Can you give me an answer.

Thanks.

Dick
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