[Schoolconsolidation] Highlights from this week's meetings

[Michael Richards]

Here are my highlights from this week's meetings.  If you have a different
take please share.

Monday, June 11th 6-7pm Kennebunk Town Hall

Maureen King, the chairperson of the SAD 71 board, led the meeting.  During
the hour workshop the boards would discuss the legislative implications,
overview of the financial implications, the timeline, and the next steps.

Legislative Implications
There was a discussion of the legislation (see this website
http://www.maine.gov/education/supportingschools/draftleg.html for a copy of
the legislation).  The timeline is short with not much wiggle room (here is
the official timeline
http://www.maine.gov/education/supportingschools/timeline.html).  The
Commissioner has been given a lot of power to assign these new districts.
Before the new district takes hold there must be a local vote to ratify this
relationship.

Overview of the Financial Implications
Each of the 3 school districts provided their ED 281 forms (a financial form
that school districts file with the state).  This data would be the starting
point at looking at the implications of a merger.  There was some talk of
the finance committees of each board getting together to look at the where
savings might occur.

Timelines and Next Steps
The state will be sponsoring some meeting in the coming month to help
districts form these consolidated districts.  The consensus was the state
may not have a lot of timely information and that it may be better to start
the process and let the state correct them later on.  There were questions
around the whole process that were not answered like "How are we going to
get this done?  Who is going to be in charge of the process?  How are they
(the State) going to figure out the cost sharing?"

There was a question asked about short term savings while administrator
contracts were honored.  The answer looked at combining some of the central
office services like transportation, adult education, transportation, and
purchasing.

Jon Renell stated Arundel is still looking at our options before making a
formal commitment.


Tuesday, June 12th School Committee Meeting

There was a recap of the legislation that was passed concerning what makes a
regional school unit (RSU).  The timelines appear to be eased a little bit
with a drop dead consolidation date of November 2009.

A question was ask, "Can we privitize?"  Answer, "Yes, but it is going to
cost taxpayers because we would loose state funding (right now the state
refunds 52% of expenses)."

Part of the plan is a 5% cut in subsidy in order to achieve the 55% state
mandate of funding for Essential Programs and Services (EPS).

There will a validation referendum to consolidation.  Compared to the
original legislation the financial penalties for not consolidating were
reduced but still significant.

The big issue for the school committee is the cost sharing factor within
consolidation.  Depending on how this is figured out (validation or students
or SAD 71 formula) consolidation may significantly raise the mill rate.

High School choice will still exist as long as taxpayers are willing to pay
an increased cost if 50+% of students go outside the consolidated district.
The extra it would cost would be added to the local share of taxes.

There was a lengthy discussion on how we can keep the public informed during
the summer months.

The School Committee will still keep options open and attend meetings to
make the best decision for the education of our students while minding the
duty to the taxpayers of Arundel.


Next Week
Tuesday, June 19th, 7 pm at the Mildred L. Day School         School
Committee meeting with officials from Saco discussing potential
consolidation
Wednesday, June 20th, 7 pm at Biddeford Middle School       Department of
Education officials meet with the public to discuss consolidation related
issues

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Mildred L. Day School
Arundel, Maine
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