[Local-Maine-Schools] Reorganization Planning Committees

[Dick Atlee]

Someone wrote asking how Regional Planning Committees are formed.  My 
mistake -- they're actually called Reorganization Planning Committees.

As a result of what I've seen in the public dialog leading up to the 
situation we are in, I believe it is important to be familiar with the 
bill's actual language, rather than relying on what someone claims that 
it says.  I believe Local-Maine-Schools is one way to make that 
information available in a useful form.  Hence this note.

The RPC's are mentioned in two (and only two) places in the bill -- both 
long sections on the planning for and creation of Regional School Units 
(RSUs).  Both of these sections contain much similar material, and I 
admit to uncertainty about the difference in their respective function. 
  Someone else may be able to clarify that.

There is also a section on the DoE's role, which, though it doesn't 
mention RPCs explicitly, describes what the DoE is supposed to do in the 
process that, among other things, will develop the RPCs.

So, for those who are interested, or may be taking a role in this whole 
process, I've copied below the parts of the two sections that mention 
RPCs, preceded by a Timeline for context and the section on the DoE's 
role.  [I've included a few clarifying comments in brackets.]  I hope 
the material will be of use in this form.

NOTE: The perhaps most important aspect of the RPCs is that they are to 
be composed of representatives of three groups of people:

  1. School officials
  2. Municipal officials
  3. General public

but how these are to be chosen doesn't seem to be specified in the language.

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Timeline context
   [July 1 (presumably): the DoE begins to cover the state, holding
    meetings to help units plan for consolidation.]
   August 31: deadline for each existing school admin unit to submit plan
   September 15: deadline for Commissioner to respond
   [Based on the fact that RPCs follow the notice-of-intent-to-
    consolidate, and must create a plan, they presumably are formed
    and operate during this period.]
   December 15: final plan submitted

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Sec. XXXX-36. Role of the Department of Education.
[This presumably occurs between July 1 and August 31, and would 
influence the setting up of RPC's, among other things.]
In order to provide for the orderly implementation of this Part, the 
Department of Education shall:

   1. Prepare models. Prepare one or more models for the reorganization 
of school administrative units in existence on the effective date of 
this Part, consistent with the provisions of section 35, subsection 1;

   2. Assist in collection and presentation of data. Assist all of the 
governing bodies of school administrative units in existence on the 
effective date of this Part in the collection and presentation of data 
pertinent to the charge established by this Part;

   3. Assist in meetings and caucuses. Assist in the organization of the 
meetings and caucuses convened by the governing bodies of the school 
administrative units in existence on the effective date of this Part to 
prepare reorganization plans as provided in subsection 1;

   4. Provide facilitation services. Make available, upon request, 
facilitation services to the governing bodies of the school 
administrative units in existence on the effective date of this Part to 
ensure the ability of those school administrative units to fulfill the 
charges required by this Part; [plus a couple of others unrelated to 
this specific topic]

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Section XXXX-13
Subchapter 2 -- FORMATION OF REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT
§ 1461.  Formation of a regional school unit; reorganization planning 
and approval

   1.  Notice of intent.  Each school administrative unit shall file 
with the commissioner a notice of intent to engage in planning and 
negotiations with other school administrative units for the purpose of 
developing a reorganization plan to form a regional school unit under 
this chapter. The commissioner shall respond to each notice of intent 
providing information regarding the process and whether the intended 
action complies with the requirements of this chapter. [see Timeline]

   2. Reorganization planning committee.  The school administrative 
units that intend to engage in planning and negotiation to create a 
regional school unit shall form a reorganization planning committee.

      A. For each proposed regional school unit, the commissioner shall 
provide guidelines for the formation of a reorganization planning 
committee including representation from the school administrative units 
included in the notice of intent, member municipalities and members of 
the general public who are residents of the proposed regional school 
unit. The guidelines must include roles and responsibilities of the 
committee, timelines for submission of the plan, the format for 
reporting the reorganization plan and evaluation criteria for approval 
of the plan.

      B. Reorganization planning committees shall hold one or more 
public meetings to gather input from community members and to determine 
the sentiment of the public.

   5. [Additional mention -- the RPC is referred to in the ballot 
language of the referendum for approving a new RSU, simply as having 
prepared the plan.]

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Section XXXX-35 Legislative Intent and Policy...

   3. Reorganization planning committee. Municipalities that intend to 
engage in planning and negotiation to create a regional school unit 
shall form a reorganization planning committee.

      A. For each proposed regional school unit, the Commissioner of 
Education shall provide guidelines for the formation of a reorganization 
planning committee including representation from the school 
administrative units in existence on the effective date of this Part, 
member municipalities and members of the general public who are 
residents of the proposed regional school unit. The guidelines must 
include roles and responsibilities of the committee, timelines for 
submission of the plan, the format for reporting the reorganization plan 
and evaluation criteria for approval of the plan.

      B. Reorganization planning committees shall hold one or more 
public meetings to gather input from community members and to determine 
the sentiment of the public...

   8. [Additional mention -- the RPC is referred to in the ballot 
language of the referendum for approving a new RSU, simply as having 
prepared the plan.]

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That's it, as far as I can tell.  All conclusions about RPCs must be 
drawn from this and whatever else the Commissioner tells the existing 
districts.

Dick