[Local-Maine-Schools] Education Commitee: Jan. 15 (short summary of 'easy' issues')

[Brian Hubbell]

Today at its afternoon work session, the Education Committee decided
to put off review of language for LD1932, opting to hear first from
their analyst, Phil McCarthy, a summary of the issues received in
testimony over the past ten days from the DoE, legislators, and
"stakeholders."

>From McCarthy's 18-page summary, the Committee settled on five issues,
considered the least controversial, to discuss for inclusion in a
supplemental "Committee Amendment A."  More controversial issues are
to be discussed later for possible inclusion in subsequent
supplemental amendments 'B', and possibly even 'C.'

Here are the issues considered easy enough to warrant discussion for
Amendment A:

* What happens to CSDs after July 2009 when the laws authorizing
municipal school districts, unions, and SADs all expire -- a
particular interest in certain areas if plans are voted down

* What is the budget process for municipalities in which RSUs
authorize local school committees and extra-local spending. [On this,
Rep Edgecomb requested a ruling from the Attorney General about what
authorities could be allowed local committees.]

* Deadlines -- Should law give the Commissioner flexibility on
permitting RPCs to comply with timelines, for example to allow RPC to
miss the November 2008 deadline for referendum on plan without
incurring the penalties for 2009.

* Labor market area issue.  Direct DoE to address the question of
relating labor market areas to new RSUs post-July 2009.

* Career of technical education center impact, looking at how RSU
boundaries will affect regional CTECs across the state.

In addition, the Committee is considering synchronizing conflicting
language about budget validation that appeared differently in the
allocated and unallocated sections of LD499.

Rep. Harlow strongly wishes to revisit the issue of permanently
removing the requirement for budget validation referenda in charter
municipalities, a matter which he believes was discussed, settled, and
voted upon by the Committee last Friday when it approved amending
LD1932.

Tomorrow's (Wednesday's) Committee work session will begin at 9:00AM
with a discussion of the above 'easy' issues, except for Harlow's.

When the Committee reconvenes in the afternoon at 1:00PM, they plan to
renew discussion of LD1932, presumably opening with Rep Harlow's
concern.