[Local-Maine-Schools] Union 93 meeting last night

[Ralph Chapman]

The Union 93 (Blue Hill, Penobscot, Brooksville, Castine) Board met
last night in Castine and (among other business) entertained a
discussion of school consolidation.  After a detailed introduction by
the Superintendent, State Representative Jim Schatz spoke at length
about the legislative process and current situation.  Many people
spoke; the views ranged from questioning some details to exasperation
and extreme frustration with both the content and process of the
Augusta-led consolidation efforts.  Rep Schatz said that the message
he heard was to "just say no".  It had been pointed out that attitudes
about the Blended Plan seemed positive because they were made in
comparison to the much worse plans; that if the Blended Plan had been
viewed in isolation, it would be seen as a poor idea.  One further
comment made indicated that education was an investment, not only in
humanity, but in economic terms as well, and that there was an
economic return on that investment which would decline if the
educational quality declined.  I hope David Walsh (reporter for the
local weekly paper) will have captured a more informative description
of the meeting than I have provided.  I'm happy to try to answer
questions based on my memory if anyone wants to contact me:
rchapman.utc at gmail.com

--Ralph Chapman