[Local-Maine-Schools] Jill Goldthwait's comments on likelihood of passage

[Dick Atlee]

Just for the record, in response to my note about the legislature having 
to find $250 million in savings if they reject the LSRS plan, and the 
DOE person who said the general sense is that the plan will pass, Jill 
Goldthwait sent the following perspective, which I apologize for only 
now getting around to sending out.

Let me take this opportunity to remind those of you interested in 
responding to list comments as part of a broad discussion, to do a 
REPLY-ALL type of reply, rather than a simple reply (which will just go 
straight back to the sender).  Thanks.

Dick

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: [Local-Maine-Schools] Augusta realities -- read if you are 
going on Monday
Date: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 22:19:27 -0500
From: Jill Goldthwait <jillgold at gwi.net>
To: <atlee at umd.edu>

Dick,
A quick word:  the $250 M in savings is over 3 years, so the annual loss 
in revenue if plan does not pass is "only" $70M, still a consequential 
amount but not as staggering as $250M.  Also, a big chunk of the savings 
is spent on discreet new programs, e.g. extending the laptop program and 
a scholarship fund so not very difficult to unplug from the budget if ed 
plan does not fly.

The Dept of Ed is obliged to support the plan since they are in the 
Executive Branch, hence opinion of employee might be from that erspective.

Still hard for me to believe that anything with a timetable like the 
governor's plan will survive.  One option is for the legislature to 
carry the bill over to next year, giving them a full year to work on a 
more measured plan.  Several of the other proposals describe 
regionalized planning effort that preserves local school boards.

Hope that answers some of your questions.
	Jill