[Local-Maine-Schools] Breakthrough Senate amendment to allow alternative school governance model

[Brian Hubbell]

Good morning all,

It looks as though we may have at last reached a breakthrough at the
legislature.

Substantial bi-partisan support now exists in the Senate for an
amendment to LD 1932 that specifically supports the reorganized school
governance model that Mount Desert Island and others have consistently
advocated over the past year.

The language for the amendment is here:
http://mdischools.net/Regional_Union_Concept.pdf

This model not only provides coherent, comprehensive, and efficient
regional school administration but also allows autonomous oversight of
each town's schools through the empowerment of local school
committees.

Additionally, this model avoids the base-level cost-shifting between
towns that could unavoidably result under the "stretched RSU" model
that, at present, is the only governance model provided within LD
1932.

I understand that this amended approach now is likely to receive
support from a substantial majority in the Senate and I believe this
is very good news to the beleaguered schools and reorganization
planning committees across the state.

This is likely to appear on the Senate floor this coming week.

So -- please -- take a moment today to let your own Senator know that
you support her or his interest in this amendment allowing Regional
Unions as an alternative reorganized school governance structure.

Senator	Philip Bartlett, Gorham, 839-7827, phil at philbartlett.com		
Senator	Peter Bowman,	Kittery, 439-6481, peterbowman at comcast.net		
Senator	Joseph Brannigan, Portland, 772-6047,
SenJoe.Brannigan at legislature.maine.gov
Senator	Lynn Bromley, South Portland, 799-2065,
SenLynn.Bromley at legislature.maine.gov
Senator	Bruce Bryant, Dixfield, 562-8872, sen.bryant at verizon.net		
Senator	Dennis Damon, Trenton, 667-9629, dsdamon at panax.com		
Senator	Bill Diamond, Windham	 892-8941, diamondhollyd at aol.com		
President Beth Edmonds, Freeport, 865-3869,
SenBeth.Edmonds at legislature.maine.gov
Senator	Barry Hobbins, Saco, 287-1515, SenBarry.Hobbins at legislature.maine.gov		
Senator	Lisa Marrache, Waterville, 861-0154, drlisa at elmcitymed.com		
Senator	John Martin, Eagle Lake, 444-5556,
SenJohn.Martin at legislature.maine.gov
Senator	Elizabeth Mitchell, Vassalboro, 622-2629,
SenLibby.Mitchell at legislature.maine.gov
Senator	John Nutting, Leeds, 524-3941, SenJohn.Nutting at legislature.maine.gov		
Senator	Joseph Perry, Bangor, 942-5585, kjjjperry at aol.com		
Senator	Margaret Rotundo, Lewiston, 784-3259, mrotundo at bates.edu		
Senator	Elizabeth Schneider, Orono, 866-7359, schneidersenate at msn.com		
Senator	Ethan Strimling, Portland, 828-8634, SenStrimling at mainesenate.org		
Senator	Nancy Sullivan, Biddeford, 282-5594, npsullivan at gwi.net		
Senator	Paula Benoit, Phippsburg, 389-1382, jbenoit at suscom-maine.net		
Senator	Jonathan Courtney, Springvale, 324-5467	joncourtney at metrocast.net		
Senator	Dana Dow, Waldoboro, 832-4658, danadow at adelphia.net		
Senator	Walter Gooley, Farmington, 778-2368, wgooley at hciwireless.net		
Senator	David Hastings, Fryeburg, 935-3175, dhastings at hastings-law.com		
Senator	Earle McCormick, West Gardiner, 724-3228, mccormick at prexar.com		
Senator	Peter Mills, Skowhegan, 474-3821, pmills at mainelegal.net		
Senator	Richard Nass, Acton, 477-2607, SenRichard.Nass at legislature.maine.gov		
Senator	Debra Plowman, Hampden, 862-4506, debraplowman at cs.com		
Senator	Kevin	Raye, Perry, 853-9406, SenatorRaye at wwsisp.com.
Senator	Richard	Rosen, Bucksport, 469-3779, rrosen113 at aol.com
Senator	Christine Savage, Union, 785-4632, csavage at midcoast.com
Senator	Roger Sherman, Houlton, 532-7073, Rsherm_2000 at yahoo.com
Senator	Douglas	Smith, Dover-Foxcroft, 564-8819, dsmith at kynd.net
Senator	Lois Snowe-Mello, Poland, 784-9136, RepLois at megalink.net
Senator	Karl Turner, Cumberland, 829-6427, SenKarl.Turner at legislature.maine.gov
Senator	Carol Weston, Montville, 589-4481, SenCarol.Weston at legislature.maine.gov