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<body class='hmmessage'>All, I have a bill in specfic to das 58 but maybe we could use it as tool to get other things settled out. All have a merry christmas. Tom saviello<br><br>> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:08:50 -0500<br>> From: atlee@umd.edu<br>> To: local-maine-schools@mainetalk.org<br>> Subject: [Local-Maine-Schools] FW: Reorganization Law Update<br>> <br>> The following was addressed to the list (and a large number of other <br>> people who might or might not want their email addresses sent to the <br>> list)...<br>> <br>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------<br>> Subject: FW: Reorganization Law Update<br>> From: "Mark Robinson" <fayetttm@localnet.com><br>> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:45:53 -0500<br>> <br>> All the best. Mark<br>> <br>> Mark Robinson, Town Manager<br>> Town of Fayette<br>> 2589 Main Street<br>> Fayette, Maine 04349<br>> phone (207) 685-4373<br>> facsimile (207) 685-9391<br>> e-mail: markrobinson@fayettemaine.com<br>> web site: www.fayettemaine.com<br>> <br>> -----------------------------------------------------------------------<br>> From: Brooks, Dustin D.<br>> Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 2:30 PM<br>> Subject: Reorganization Law Update<br>> <br>> We wanted to get around a full, pre-holiday update to you all on our <br>> legislative and executive branch efforts. Please feel free to forward <br>> this to all involved parties for their information.<br>> <br>> Earlier this month, Mark Robinson, Dick Gould and Dan Walker met with <br>> Commissioner Gendron and delivered a letter to her that outlined our <br>> requests. I attach a copy of the letter for your information. She was <br>> very willing to discuss the issues with our delegation and they had a <br>> good conversation about the issue. She did say, though, that the <br>> department would not be putting a bill forward on this matter. She did <br>> commit to discussing our requests with the governor and said she would <br>> contact us with a follow up. We have not yet heard from her, and Dan is <br>> checking in with her office.<br>> <br>> It should be noted that during their conversation, she expressed a real <br>> interest in specifics as to what alternative methods might be used to <br>> show savings. We had begun compiling a list of case studies and will <br>> continue to do so.<br>> <br>> In the meantime, much has happened on the legislative front as well. <br>> Last week, the Legislative Council approved several bills related to <br>> school district reorganization for consideration in the upcoming Second <br>> Regular session. We'll keep an eye on all of them, but we are <br>> particularly interested in two that align well with some of our goals. <br>> 1.) Representative Lisa Miller of Somerville has sponsored a bill <br>> creating an opt out provision, and 2.) Representative Peggy Rotundo of <br>> Lewiston has sponsored a bill preventing collection of penalties until <br>> the state achieves its 55% funding requirement. Both representatives <br>> are Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee and strong <br>> advocates for these issues.<br>> <br>> There also remains the concept draft carried over from last session <br>> sponsored by Representative Edward Finch of Fairfield, a Democratic <br>> member of the Education Committee. We are attempting to get copies of <br>> the language of the Miller and Rotundo bills for our review, but it is <br>> clear that we will have sufficient vehicles for our work legislatively.<br>> <br>> We have also been monitoring the issues related to special education, <br>> charter schools and the GPA reduction in the supplemental budget to <br>> determine their impact on our initiative. It is clear that there will <br>> be a compelling argument for removing the penalties, and also for the <br>> creative paths to savings that we intend to offer given the substantial <br>> pressures that all schools in Maine will be under.<br>> <br>> We will be making contact with the commissioner early next week to <br>> follow up on our meeting and will prepare initial drafts of the <br>> legislative language to propose to the Education Committee when it <br>> begins consideration of these bills. Once we have initial drafts, we <br>> will send them around for consideration and comments. In the meantime, <br>> please send any specific ideas relative to demonstrable savings <br>> initiatives that you might provide.<br>> <br>> Expect an additional update related to the commissioner's response and <br>> some draft language for your review early next week. In addition to the <br>> letter to the commissioner, I attach an engagement agreement for those <br>> who may need it.<br>> <br>> Happy Holidays,<br>> <br>> Dustin<br>> --------------------------------------<br>> Dustin D Brooks<br>> Government Relations Liaison<br>> <br>> PretiFlaherty<br>> 45 Memorial Circle<br>> PO Box 1058<br>> Augusta, ME 04332-1058<br>> 207.623.5300<br>> dbrooks@preti.com<br> <br /><hr />Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. <a href='http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/' target='_new'>Get it now.</a></body>
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