[Local-Maine-Schools] RSU Citizens Guide

[Gordon Donaldson]

Hi Brian and Consolidation List Serve:

The Maine Small School Coalition has developed a Citizen's Guide of questions to pose at upcoming public information meetings on regional RSU and AOS plans.  We are attaching it for readers to consider, copy, and use as they may wish.  We believe
these questions are essential as they will ascertain whether the plans put forward by RPC's are fulfilling the promise of the Reorganization Legislation.  
  We anticipate distributing this flier at public meetings in November, December, and January and welcome all assistance in doing so. 

Gordon Donaldson
for the Board of the Maine Small Schools Coalition. 



Text of the Flier:

WILL THIS RSU PLAN BE GOOD FOR OUR STUDENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY?

A CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO EVALUATING CONSOLIDATION PLANS
(From the Maine Small Schools Coalition, Greenville, ME 10/08)

  In November, December, and January, Maine citizens will vote on enlarging their school districts.  How should you vote at your town or district’s referendum?
   The questions below help you evaluate the plan that your region has developed for a new Regional School Unit (RSU).   
   ASK THESE QUESTIONS AT MEETINGS ABOUT YOUR PLAN.  If your answers to the Four Big Questions are “No” or “It’s Not Clear”, your plan does not do what the reorganization law says it should.  Such plans deserve a “No” vote at the upcoming
referendum.  If the plan gives clear and detailed reasons to answer “Yes”, then vote to approve it.

WILL THIS PLAN SAVE US MONEY?

                                                     
1.	What savings will there be from combining Superintendents’ Offices?  

a. How were these figured?  Are they convincing?

b. Are these 1-year savings?  Or, will they be permanent?

c. Will the new consolidated Office serve your schools and citizens  
    well?

2.	What savings (or new costs) will there be from negotiating one “consistent” contract for teachers and, possibly, administrators and support staff (transportation, cooks, clerical, maintenance)?

Have these figures been calculated over the next five years?

3.	What other savings are advertised in the plan?  Are they reasonable?

4.        What new costs will likely come with the plan?  Are they included in it?


WILL THIS PLAN IMPROVE LEARNING FOR OUR CHILDREN?


5.	What specific steps does the plan include to strengthen programs and services for your children?  Are these realistic and supported by best practices with proven success?

6.	What existing programs and services will disappear from your school?  



WILL THIS PLAN GIVE US CHOICE OVER IMPORTANT DECISIONS INVOLVING OUR SCHOOL?


    7.    Can we determine educational programs and staffing?

    8.    Can we determine how much we choose to spend for our school?

9.	Can we determine whether to collaborate and/or combine with other schools?

10.	Can we determine other community uses for our school facilities?



WILL THIS PLAN BE FAIR TO ALL TOWNS AND CITIZENS?


11.	Does the plan fairly tax all towns in the region?  How does it “equalize” the burden of paying for schools among all towns?

Does this plan fairly distribute funds and other resources to each school so that every school can offer students an equal opportunity to learn?  How?

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