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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Good evening friends,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>I sent this op ed piece out on Monday and forgot to
forward a copy to you. So here it is. I am sure it is too late
for newspapers this week, but you might try to ask your local newspapers if they
would run it next week.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thanks,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Skip</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=skipg@midmaine.com href="mailto:skipg@midmaine.com">skip greenlaw</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=skipg@midmaine.com
href="mailto:skipg@midmaine.com">skipgreenlaw</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 19, 2009 7:46 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Oped re:Repeal of the School Consolidation Law</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Oped article for immediate release</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Maine Coalition to Save Schools</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Contact: Skip Greenlaw, 460-1260</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=2
face=Arial>
<U>MAINERS NEED TO REPEAL SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION FOR GOOD OF ALL</U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><U><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></U> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><U><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></U> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=2
face=Arial>
Skip Greenlaw</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=center><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Why should all Mainers care about voting
Yes on Question 3 to repeal the school consolidation law? Because
we</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>have a long and proud history of caring
about each other, whether we live in Kittery, Fort Kent, Jackman, Eastport or
anywhere in between. As they say: "United we stand, divided we
fall."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>We all understand that our schools are
the fabric, which brings us together as a community regardless of size. A
significant number of communities feel threatened by this law. Hopefully,
we shall all come to their rescue to repeal the school consolidation
law.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The following is a summary of the most
important reasons why we must repeal the school consolidation law.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-The law does not treat everyone the
same. There are 65 districts representing 55 percent of the state's
enrollment,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>that were not forced to consolidate
because of size, location or other special dispensations granted by the
Department of Education. Yet more than 125 districts were
ordered to face consolidation. Those districts</FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial> that rejected consolidation are now facing $5 million in
penalties.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-Repealing the law will not cost any
money, but keeping it on the books will.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-A review of all available information
reveals that there is not net cost savings to consolidation. In fact, many
people believe that when collective bargaining agreements are finalized,
consolidation will cost more money that it saves.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-Five Town CSD in the Camden area, for
example, estimates its salary costs would go up by $420,000 if they forced to
consolidate. In the Brewer area, the estimate is closer to $2
million. Why is the state trying to force districts to do the wrong thing
for their taxpayers?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-Loss of local control is just starting
to hit home for those 26 new regions that were formed under the mandate, yet
there is no way to get out of a consolidated district once you're in.
In SAD 38 (Etna & Dixmont) that loss of control</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>has meant the loss of school choice for
high school students. In other communities, it has meant tax shifts that
are forcing up property taxes by as much as 25 to 30 percent.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>-People throughout Maine should
recognize and honor the votes of over 125 districts that rejected
consolidation. Large school systems will not meet the needs of eastern and
northern Maine.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Augusta never asked superintendents and
school boards to find ways to reduce spending on our schools through
cooperation. Instead, they enacted this mandatory law with the hope that
it would save money. This law will not produce any savings and despite
what the opponents of repeal say, Voting Yes on Question 3 will not cost any
money. It will save money in the long run.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>School districts will continue to work
with the governor and legislature to accomplish the goal "of living within our
means". However, it is unnecessary to destroy school governance in the
process.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial>It is very important for all Maine
voters to stand shoulder to shoulder with residents of Maine communities that
are going to be penalized for voting their conscience and repeal this
unacceptable law. Think for a minute how aggrieved you would feel if you
lived in one of these communities. Please vote YES on Question 3 to repeal
the school consolidation law. Then we can all return to the most important
job of educating our children.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Skip Greenlaw is chair of the Maine
Coalition to Save Schools which collected 61,193 signatures to place the repeal
of the school consolidation law on the ballot. Visit their website
- <A
href="http://www.repealconsolidation.com">www.repealconsolidation.com</A>.
</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT></EM> </DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Note to publishers, editors, and
reporters: Thank you for all the articles you have printed on behalf of
our efforts during the past two years. We hope that you will print this
final oped piece before the election. Thank you.</FONT></EM></DIV>
<DIV align=left><EM><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Skip
Greenlaw</FONT></EM></DIV></BODY></HTML>