[Local-Maine-Schools] Consolidation (posting from Dick Gould via Brian Hubbell)

[Dick Atlee]

Brian forwarded this earlier message from Dick Gould this afternoon at 
the time we were moving the list archives, and it missed the new 
archive.  I'm not sure if you received the message, but in any case I'm 
posting it so it becomes part of the new list archives.  I will resist 
the temptation to comment on Rep. Cain's assertion in the first 
paragraph, other than to say that we apparently don't know where the 
bottom is, so I guess we haven't hit it yet...

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Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 07:01:56 -0400
From: "RICHARD GOULD" <perf3170rag at verizon.net>
Subject: Consolidation
To: Local Maine Schools list

Good Morning
     I am again attaching the plan adopted by the Approp. Committee
yesterday.  Rep. Cain told the committee that this was a plan
developed from the bottom up and with a wide variety of people
involved.
     It appears that the leadership is planning to ram this thought as
quickly as they can.  It is likely to be on the calendar on Monday.
Likely to be a vote on that day, but I must say that it may not be
until Tuesday that it starts.

  Action needed:
     Attend the Rural Caucus today at noon.  Meeting is in the State
House first floor south wing.  Sandy McArthur and I are meeting at 10
am in the cafeteria.  All who can make it should.  It will show the RC
that we are supporting them.
     Contact your legislators in two ways.  Email and telephone.  House
number is: 1-800-432-2900
Senate number is: 1-800-423-6900
     Plan to attend session Monday at least and Tuesday if you can make
it.  I cannot tell you when or how long this will take as it is all
subject to change, but this is the best estimate I have.
     I will let you know exactly what I think as the Chair of the
Greenville School Committee. This is a power play by some people in
Augusta that will not save the money they predict.  They have been
unwilling to give people the information we need to verify their
predictions.  As far as I am concerned they want to close schools, but
will not admit it because they know it would hurt their efforts.  I am
a firm believer in local control and this bill does not have local
control.  It reminds me of a crook going up to a person, pointing a
gun at that person and saying give me your money or I will kill you.
Of course you have a choice!
     Enough of my thoughts.  Please take action!