[Local-Maine-Schools] Fwd: MPBN/School Consolidation Reporting

Fri Feb 29 11:24:51 EST 2008

I think it would be useful for MPBN, if roads or travel time turn out to 
be to intimidating, to at least have the person/people covering the 
school issue subscribe to the Local-Maine-Schools list (which can be 
done at the address at the bottom of this page -- it works for both 
subscribing and unsubscribing).

In doing so, they would have access to Brian Hubbell's succinct and 
on-target financial analyses (both the excellent past ones in the list's 
recent archive and his future ones).  I think these would demonstrate 
that you don't need more than a 4-minute sound bite to get a very clear 
picture of why what the Department of Education is putting out is 
deliberately misleading.

The reporter(s) would also have access to Brian's insightful analytical 
commentary on what is going on in Augusta, which, given his incisive 
mind and complete continuity of background on this issue, might prove 
very helpful a reporter coming into these hearings cold and unprotected 
from the machinations with which we've become all too familiar.

Dick Atlee
SW Harbor

Gail Marshall wrote:
> By the way Keith, I used an old mailing address to our local maine 
> school list and therefore in your reply you have used that too. I resent 
> my first mail to the correct address and now send our replies there too.
> Sorry for inconvenience to all.
> Gail 
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> *From: *Gail Marshall <gmarshall at wildmoo.net 
>> <mailto:gmarshall at wildmoo.net>>
>> *Date: *February 29, 2008 10:11:38 AM EST
>> *To: *"Keith Shortall" <KShortall at mpbn.net <mailto:KShortall at mpbn.net>>
>> *Subject: **Re: MPBN/School Consolidation Reporting*
>>
>> Keith,
>> I sat in the Senate that day (last Monday), introduced myself to Mr. 
>> Higgins and heard the report. It was one of the better ones in that it 
>> included coverage of sound bites from those who voted on either side 
>> of the issue. (By the way, he took audio from me too but diid not use 
>> it. Rest assured that as one not normally before a microphone, it was 
>> with relief and not disappointment that i did not hear my voice coming 
>> through my speakers that evening.) 
>> Since this issue has ground on for over a year, my ability to recount 
>> specific passages of concern fails me. But if we sat down together to 
>> listen to the oeuvre of MPBN's work on this topic, I can assure you we 
>> would have a lively discussion.  I have winced too many times about it 
>> to let this latest stand-alone, gratuitous and really rather 
>> remarkably mean-spirited shot by the Governor go by unchallenged. 
>>  Your coverage has tended to be almost exclusively what people inside 
>> the state capitol are saying about the intent and likely effect of 
>> school consolidation. It has leaned heavily towards what the 
>> Commissioner and the Governor assert without question. I see their 
>> press releases. I hear how relatively close to their talking points 
>> reportage tends to be. It is important for you to know and reflect in 
>> your reporting that there is a huge disconnect between what is being 
>> said in Augusta about this matter and what is being said and 
>> experienced by those of us who are at work in our communities trying 
>> to run our schools. (I am a school board member, chair of our high 
>> school board and chair of our Reorganization Planning Committee.)
>> Like I said at the end of my mail below, we on MDI  are among the 
>> people who have been most consistently and insistently pushing back. I 
>> really do think we and similarly situated school systems are worth a 
>> visit. Not because we have nothing better to do, heaven forbid. Not 
>> because we are contrarians. Not because we are power-mad school board 
>> members. It is because we have fine schools that work well. Because 
>> the Department of Education has constantly misguided our schools-all 
>> of our schools, on many issues-and they have no credibility within the 
>> educational community any more.  Because on it's face the State's 
>> plans will do our schools and communities harm. Because it is a 
>> complex issue that requires some understanding of the details. Because 
>> there is something important at stake in this fight over "local 
>> control." That term can be used to justify a lot of parochial sins, 
>> but it can also be used in a perfectly legitimate defense of 
>> unwarranted and unwise encroachment by a bigger branch of government.
>> I happen to think exploring the real-life implications of this debate 
>> requires and deserves more than sound bites.
>> I don't listen to or watch commercial programming. Sadly, I wouldn't 
>> bother to challenge what they do. I challenge you because I expect 
>> more from MPBN.
>> I know the roads are "wicked bad", but send someone out to find out 
>> what is really going on where it counts: in our schools.
>> Thanks,
>> Gail
>> On Feb 29, 2008, at 9:11 AM, Keith Shortall wrote:
>>
>>> Dear Ms Marshall,
>>>
>>> Thank you for your feedback on our story on Kid's Count. I have 
>>> forwarded your comments to our reporter, AJ Higgins, and have 
>>> carefully looked over all of your detailed points. We'll be sure to 
>>> consider them in future stories. In response I would ask whether you 
>>> could be more specific about our past coverage, and how it has fallen 
>>> short.  Were you able to hear our coverage of the hearing on the 
>>> Damon amendment earlier this week, which quoted both Senator Damon 
>>> and House Majority Leader Pingree? If so, did you find it to be 
>>> lacking?  If you missed it you can hear it at our website, in the 
>>> radio news archive. 
>>>
>>> Reported By: A.J. Higgins Date Aired: 2/25/2008
>>> A bill aimed at removing barriers for towns grappling with the 
>>> state's school administration consolidation law has now been amended, 
>>> and the change, according to opponents, could undermine the intent of 
>>> the original effort. The amendment would allow communities to create 
>>> a "superunion of governance" which supporters say would provide more 
>>> local control for taxpayers.
>>>
>>> We try to very hard in all of our coverage of such complicated issues 
>>>  to bring in both sides.  I'm sure you can also understand that 
>>> in-depth analysis of the financial implications of school 
>>> consolidation is a challenge  in four minutes on the radio. Thank you 
>>> for listening, and I look forward to hearing more from you.
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Keith
>>>
>>>
>>> Keith Shortall
>>> News/Public Affairs Director
>>> Maine Public Broadcasting Network
>>> 309 Marginal Way
>>> Portland,  ME  04101
>>> Phone:  207-874-6570 or 1-800-884-1717
>>> Fax:  207-761-0318
>>> www.mpbn.net <http://www.mpbn.net>
>>>
>>> More to Explore 
>>>
>>> -- This e-mail message may contain material that is confidential or 
>>> proprietary to MPBN.  If you are not the intended recipient(s) or the 
>>> employee or agent responsible for delivery of this message to the 
>>> intended recipient(s), you are hereby notified that any 
>>> dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail message is 
>>> strictly prohibited.  If you have received this message in error, 
>>> please immediately notify the sender, destroy all copies of this 
>>> message, and delete this message from your computer. --
>>
> 
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