[Local-Maine-Schools] Consolidation

[Gail Marshall]

Indeed,
And one thing that is clear is that MANY legislators have not  
actually read this bill. They are relying on interpretations from DOE  
personnel, and those interpretations are not accurate. We have. And  
we have run scenarios about how it would affect Union 98. None of  
them are pretty. We are now having conversations with our  
legislators. It is vital that continues over the weekend.
By sometime Friday we should have up on Local Maine Schools list a  
position paper that outlines ways in which this bill will harm our  
communities. You should feel free to plagiarize from it to meet your  
needs.
I certainly hope the Small Schools Coalition and the Rural Caucus  
will push with all they have to kill this bill.
Thank you,
Gail Marshall
On May 31, 2007, at 9:16 PM, Keith Cook wrote:

> I believe you are absolutely right, Roger.  Well said!
>
> Do you know where the Rural Caucus meets on Fri. noon?
>
> Keith
>
>
> On May 31, 2007, at 3:56 PM, rshaw at sad42.k12.me.us wrote:
>
>> I just talked with Dick and the Rural Caucus will meet tomorrow
>> (Friday)at
>> 12:00 noon. He asked me to inform you of the meeting and urge you
>> to attend. I
>> really feel more strongly than ever that the ONLY way to get
>> something more
>> palatable is for the Rural Caucus to stick together and defeat the
>> budget. More time, a more reasoned approach  and ACURATE
>> information needs to
>> drive change of this magnitude. The "distraction with data" has
>> been amusing,
>> but alarming to watch.!!! The Rural Caucus has power now only
>> because of the
>> 2/3 vote requirement. If we don't leverage that power, we'll NEVER
>> be able to
>> stop the train once it starts. Urban Maine legislators are mostly
>> ambivalent
>> at best(it doesn't negatively impact many of them)without any
>> regard for the
>> impact on Rural Maine.....a sad legacy for this legislature. Building
>> the "case for consolidation" on the backs of the poorest, smallest
>> and most
>> vulnerable communities and school districts in Maine is not the
>> legacy anyone
>> should aspire to be associated with!! I think we're at a "defining
>> point" in
>> Maine history and the future of Rural Maine is very much at stake!!
>>
>> "We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by
>> exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of
>> courage."
>> -- Aristotle, Greek philosopher (384-322 B.C.) 
>>
>>
>>
>> Roger
>>
>>
>> Quoting RICHARD GOULD <perf3170rag at verizon.net>:
>>
>>> Hi
>>>
>>> I can't tell you much, but it appears that local control out the
>>> window.
>>> Also strong penalties appear to be in the mix.  I am not going to
>>> say much
>>> until I see the actual proposal which is supposed to be out tonight.
>>>
>>> It is very important to contact your legislators and let them know
>>> how you
>>> want them to vote.  It is also vital that they do not support the
>>> bill based
>>> upon what other legislators tell them.  They must read the bill
>>> when it comes
>>> out so they know what it really says.
>>>
>>> Also you should try to arrange for people in your district to be
>>> ready to go
>>> to Augusta as soon as we know what is in the bill.
>>>
>>> I just talked to Dale Douglas and they are going to have Dick
>>> Spencer go over
>>> the bill to determine what is in it so we know if it is something
>>> we can
>>> support or not.
>>>
>>> More later,
>>>
>>>  Dick
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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