[Local-Maine-Schools] Gould: Strategy comments + email from C. Begin SAD12]

[Dick Atlee]

Another note from Dick Gould.  He forwards a thoughtful note (permission 
granted for forwarding) from a Jackman RPC attender, at the end of which 
you'll find an intriguing proposal on Italian Restaurant consolidation 
:-)  Great simile!

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Strategy comments + email from C. Begin SAD12
Date: 	Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:37:45 -0500
From: 	RICHARD GOULD <perf3170rag at verizon.net>


Hi All
I am getting alot of comments on what strategy we should take and I am
complying a list.  I would like to send them out to everyone as a
package, but I want to be sure that you who have sent me your opinions
do not object.  If you do please let me know.

Also, please send your thought if you have not already done so or send
an update if you have some more thoughts.

I am heading to Augusta in a few minutes for the afternoon meeting of
the Ed com.  You can reach me at 280-0757 if
you want anything.

*See Mr. Begin's email below.*

Good morning, Hope you had a great Christmas.  I would like to voice my
concerns about the consolidation and the lack of guidance that we have
had so far.  I have gone to all the Regional Planning Committee meetings
to date and can truthfully tell you that while we have submitted a plan,
we have accomplished nothing but waste our time.  After we travel one
hour, we have no direction from Augusta, more questions than answers and
most importantly people who are getting very discouraged and talking
hard about quitting the RPC.  What happens if we get ¾ of the way
through consolidation and people quit?  (one more question of many)  The
ideal solution to this whole problem would be repeal of the law!



Now that I got that off my chest, I was talking to Heather Perry (Supt
SAD 12) yesterday, she mentioned that there is an alternate plan on the
table and that is a ?super union plan?.  From what I understand about
this, it sounds like it would meet all the requirements that the Law
requires without having to re-invent the wheel.  Local control, school
boards, etc. for the most part would remain the same and yet we would be
able to share services and purchases.  This I could buy onto!!



If the Governor is really set on this law, then at the very least we
need the following:



*More time*.  The time frame we have to work with is way to short.  I?m
sure Jack man is no different to other communities in Maine where if you
volunteer in one program you probably see the same faces.  By the way
they also have jobs and families.


Allow for fewer than 1200 students for geographically isolated areas
such as Jackman



Appropriate measures put into the plan to help deter larger units from
controlling the RSU board, such as a requirement that to close a school
would require a unanimous vote by the RSU board, or things like setting
limits on the amount of time students should be on buses, or things like
how vocational monies will be managed in this new region.



If this all fails and the Governor is locked in on this poorly written
law, then I would like to propose *An Emergency Bill*: *A LAW TO
CONSOLIDATE ITILIAN RESAURANTS IN MAINE *



This too would be a simple and quick law.  The objective would be all
dishes to be the same at the same price with minimum patrons to be 1200
and maximum of 1275.

This would insure the people of Maine the same dish, texture, and price
of Italian dishes no matter where they go.  In an effort to be fair to
the restaurants, we will have a committee, IRPC (Italian Restaurant
Planning Committee).  This committee will consist of plain folks who
have no business experience or attended business classes.  We would not
discriminate if they have entered a place of business however.  Their
task would be to make sure that the dishes would be prepared in the same
manner and style and serving portion to comply with Federal calorie
intake guidelines all at the same price.  (We?ll change the rules and
answer questions as they come up, if you can contact us during the
holiday weekend.)



Since this is so simple a task, I would expect the law to pass by
January 10 and the IRPC to have all plans in by January 21, Martin
Luther King Day.







Thank you for your time.**