[Local-Maine-Schools] bangor metro article

[Lynne Williams]

Hello All:  As the state chair of the Maine Green Independent Party,  
I was asked to submit a question for an end of his term interview  
with the Gov., in this month's issue of Bangor Metro magazine - the  
following, in quotes, is the question that I submitted and the  
response - some of you, particularly those of you on RSU's and/or  
selectboards,  might want to write and dispute JB's characterization  
of the law and the results.  The magazine is online at  
www.bangormetro.com and on the newstands, it's the Dec. issue.  The  
author is Mike Woelflein.
Happy holiday season to all of you, Lynne Williams

Lynne A. Williams, Esq.
13 Albert Meadow
Bar Harbor, ME  04609
266-6327
lynne at mainegreens.org

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

School consolidation was another hot button issue for many. “It seems  
that the predicted $36 million savings is not going to materialize,”  
one said, calling the move “forced consolidation and a one-size-fits- 
all plan” where “many of our small, rural towns will see hundreds of  
thousands of dollars in real estate tax increases in order to  
consolidate with larger districts.” How do you respond to that  
criticism?

The state will realize the $36 million. It is in the law, and state  
subsidy has been adjusted accordingly. All over the state, regions  
are predicting savings on the local level, modest or nonexistent in  
the first year or two, but substantial in subsequent years. In the  
areas where they have gone into the process assuming there will be no  
savings, they have not found them. In areas where they have put  
quality educational opportunities for students at the top of the  
list, they have found ways to save money in noninstructional areas so  
they can continue to offer the highest quality educational  
opportunities.

This has been far from a one-size-fits-all plan. There’s a great deal  
of flexibility, requiring SAUs to explore their options and do the  
hard work of negotiating solutions that work best for them. There is  
no reason for the law to result in shifting costs from one town to  
another, or for school units to see increases in taxes.  
Municipalities create their own cost-sharing formula in order to  
avoid cost-shifting. The plans submitted and approved are unique,  
made to work best locally. Also, it’s not forced. Communities have an  
opportunity to vote on consolidation and decide for themselves how to  
proceed.