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Log inConsolidation dance begins anew
Consolidation dance begins anew
by Outspoken on Tue Jul 08, 2008 6:27 am
Consolidation dance begins anew
By COLIN HICKEY
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel
OAKLAND -- The deadline for forming new regional school units is July 1 -- less than a year from today.
School Administrative District 47 and School Union 52 are looking to consolidate to become one of those new RSUs.
And that's why more than a dozen officials from six of the seven communities involved (Rome was not represented), both school and municipal, met Monday at the SAD 47 superintendent's office.
They know time is short.
What also became apparent at Monday's meeting is many decisions -- and difficult ones at that -- must still be made.
"We've already passed the deadline for submitting the plan," Union 52 Assistant Superintendent Gary Smith said, "if you believe the timetable."
That Department of Education timetable calls for regional planning committees to submit an alternative plan, updated plan or status report June 13, which makes SAD 47 and Union 52 about three weeks late.
"Today," SAD 47 Superintendent James C. Morse Sr. said as the meeting opened, "we're here to see if we can come to an agreement on what financially makes most sense (for the RSU)."
Morse later explained, however, that any agreements they reach must then be brought in front of the entire regional planning committee to approve.
Then whatever plan the larger committee OKs must go before voters in the seven participating communities by no later than Jan. 30.
Much to do, so little time.
That could have been the meeting's theme, at least in the opening two hours.
Smith spent much of the morning describing the major issues and financial impact on each of the seven communities based on numerous options and scenarios.
Those issues include how to deal with local debt, school choice and teacher salaries and benefits.
None of those concerns, Smith made plain, are easy to resolve.
On local debt, for instance, Winslow has $6 million to retire on its recently renovated high school.
In one of the options Smith described, each of the RSU towns would be responsible for its own local debt.
But, Smith asked, what happens in the future if a new school is needed in one of the RSU towns? Is that the individual town's responsibility, or the responsibility of the RSU?
Another complicating factor in the consolidation proposal is Erskine Academy in South China.
As a private, independent high school, Erskine Academy would not be considered an RSU school.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5215574.html
Staff photo by David Leaming
By COLIN HICKEY
Staff Writer Morning Sentinel
OAKLAND -- The deadline for forming new regional school units is July 1 -- less than a year from today.
School Administrative District 47 and School Union 52 are looking to consolidate to become one of those new RSUs.
And that's why more than a dozen officials from six of the seven communities involved (Rome was not represented), both school and municipal, met Monday at the SAD 47 superintendent's office.
They know time is short.
What also became apparent at Monday's meeting is many decisions -- and difficult ones at that -- must still be made.
"We've already passed the deadline for submitting the plan," Union 52 Assistant Superintendent Gary Smith said, "if you believe the timetable."
That Department of Education timetable calls for regional planning committees to submit an alternative plan, updated plan or status report June 13, which makes SAD 47 and Union 52 about three weeks late.
"Today," SAD 47 Superintendent James C. Morse Sr. said as the meeting opened, "we're here to see if we can come to an agreement on what financially makes most sense (for the RSU)."
Morse later explained, however, that any agreements they reach must then be brought in front of the entire regional planning committee to approve.
Then whatever plan the larger committee OKs must go before voters in the seven participating communities by no later than Jan. 30.
Much to do, so little time.
That could have been the meeting's theme, at least in the opening two hours.
Smith spent much of the morning describing the major issues and financial impact on each of the seven communities based on numerous options and scenarios.
Those issues include how to deal with local debt, school choice and teacher salaries and benefits.
None of those concerns, Smith made plain, are easy to resolve.
On local debt, for instance, Winslow has $6 million to retire on its recently renovated high school.
In one of the options Smith described, each of the RSU towns would be responsible for its own local debt.
But, Smith asked, what happens in the future if a new school is needed in one of the RSU towns? Is that the individual town's responsibility, or the responsibility of the RSU?
Another complicating factor in the consolidation proposal is Erskine Academy in South China.
As a private, independent high school, Erskine Academy would not be considered an RSU school.
http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5215574.html
Staff photo by David Leaming
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me'."
Erma Bombeck (1927-1996)
Erma Bombeck (1927-1996)
