[Local-Maine-Schools] An exchange with Dick Dimond and Dick's 3-bullet summary

[Brian Hubbell]

>4) Therefore, we can not support any legislative directive
>that dissolves our current school administrative units
>and replaces it with a larger regional structure.

Brian,

With all due respect, it seems to me that the language of your #4 is
ill-advised, isolationist, & without any sense of trying to be part of
a reasonable solution to a huge state problem.

Dick Dimond

--------------------

Dick,

While welcoming improvements to the language, I think that the
sentiment expressed by number 4 is very close to the consensus that
the Education Committee is reaching.

The critical point is how, given that, to realize real savings.  As I
understand our position, we are open to any self-directed
reorganization as well as to any collaboration of existing units on a
larger scale.

Either of those (again, just from my point of view) have at least as
much prospect of realizing cost savings as the Governor's proposal.

--Brian

----------------------

Brian,

Thanks for your note back. I'm not suggesting an exercise in
semantics.  However, your # 4 says, "Therefore, we can not support any
legislative directive that dissolves our current school administrative
units and replaces it with a larger regional structure."

Clearly, this statement says you cannot support enlarging the scope of
Union 98 to include such nearby towns as Trenton & Lamoine.  If that's
not what you mean, then "what" you actually say is important.  If that
is what you mean, then I stand my original comment.

As always, reasonable people sometimes have to agree to disagree.

Dick Dimond

-----------------------

Dick,

Just to be absolutely precise: what I mean is that we do not want to
be compelled by the state to join with Trenton and Lamoine arbitrarily
and regardless of the willingness of any of the parties.  If anyone
can present a persuasive case that the schools of MDI, Trenton, and
Lamoine would be better under a common administrative structure, I
think we'd join readily.

It seems an important distinction.  And I, for one, am very much
interested in agreement.

--Brian

-------------------------

Brian,

Fair enough & a distinction well-made. However,it doesn't sound as
though you want to participate in the exploration of that possibility,
or others that may be similar to it.

Rather, you say,"If anyone can present a persuasive case that the
schools of MDI, Trenton, and Lamoine would be better under a common
administrative structure, I think we'd join readily." That sounds like
you'd consider the possibility if someone else can demonstrate to your
satisfaction that everyone's situation would be improved by the
change.

--Dick

-------------------------

Dick,

I think you're just going to have to take me at my word that I'm
open-minded.  :-)

I'm sure you're not alone in drawing that inference from what I wrote.
 So I appreciate your voicing it.  But, really, it's not true.  I mean
exactly what I said: I don't care who proposes it.  If it's better for
our schools -- and I include any of our schools in that statement, not
just the ones I'm presently elected to represent -- I'm in favor.

--Brian

---------------------------

Brian,

That's great and is exactly what I both hoped & believed you meant!
It does, however, point out the relevance of what or how something is
said.

If I may paraphrase or re-state what I think we all believe and feel
strongly about, it would go like this:

¡ñ we object strongly to being compelled by the State to join with
other municipalities arbitrarily and without the municipalities
themselves having explored the potential merits of the case and agreed
to do so;

¡ñ at the same time, we recognize our responsibility to seek
appropriate and effective economies of scale in the educational system
on MDI and in our nearby region, and we are committed to continuing to
do so;

¡ñ to that end, we welcome the opportunity to broaden the recent
discussions that have taken place on MDI and look forward to exploring
similar options with school boards from other towns in our nearby
region.  (I couldn't resist the temptation to add this third bullet).

I hope you'll conclude that you and I are not so far apart in our
thinking after all.  In the meanwhile, thank you for your all of your
effort in this endeavor and for the openness of our discussion.

Dick

--------------------------

Dick,

Yes, I think that when the dust settles you and I are not in
disagreement and the only difference that possibly remains is what you
correctly identify as a shade of "proactivity" on my part.  While my
heart may not quite be there yet, I agree that yours is the healthier
stance.

In what is probably a relatively narrow spectrum of attitudes among
Union 98 board members, I probably tend toward the more liberal side
in my agreeing with you.  I suspect there are a least a few who would
be very reluctant to adopt your third bullet point.

But I think it's a terrific summation.  Would you mind posting it to
the discussion list?
"Local Maine Schools List" <local-maine-schools at lists.svaha.com>

If for any reason you'd rather not have your name attached to it, I
would post it for you.

--Brian

-------------------------

Brian,

Thanks for the compliment.  I would be happy to share my thoughts on
the listserv, but, based upon your remarks, I think it might be more
effective if you posted it in a note summarizing the context of our
discussion over several e-mails.  Furthermore, I am delighted to
associate my name with yours publicly because of the dialogue that
took place.

As for the content of the "bullets" & especially #3, I'm not surprised
about the latter, I would expect it (especially after the way the
Governor saw fit to "unveil" his program), and I find it both
appropriate and healthy (albeit different from my own reaction).
However, after some of the "dust" settles, I hope that a few of the
few would feel comfortable enough to embrace #3 in both form &
substance.

In all honesty, I believe it is the only chance we really have in the
long-run and represents a "win-win" situation for the future of our
educational system.

These kinds of matters take time ¨C and so many of you are so invested
in our school system because of your devoted service on school boards
etc.  In fact, you feel attacked &/or betrayed by the administration's
proposal because you've been attacked & betrayed by the
administration's failure of leadership ¨C "it just ain't the way to run
a tight ship", as some one in the Navy once said.

Once again, many thanks.

Dick