Portal
Home
Calendar
Gallery
FAQ
Search
Register
Log inDivided over consolidation
Page 1 of 1•
Divided over consolidation
by Outspoken on Mon Nov 10, 2008 5:30 am
Divided over consolidation
Falmouth, SAD 51 may each try to go it alone
By DENNIS HOEY
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
The towns of Cumberland, Falmouth and North Yarmouth find themselves facing a rapidly approaching deadline for satisfying the state's school reorganization law.
Voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth overwhelmingly approved a reorganization plan on Nov. 4, but their proposed partner, Falmouth, negated the merger by defeating the plan.
Falmouth's decision means that School Administrative District 51 – which covers Cumberland and North Yarmouth – and Falmouth must each develop a plan before the Jan. 30 deadline or face state penalties.
Officials from those school districts said it seems likely that each district will seek state approval for stand-alone school systems.
However, there is no guarantee that Education Commissioner Susan Gendron will approve their plans, leaving Falmouth, in particular, exposed to a possible penalty.
''We've met with the commissioner on two occasions, and both times she has said that we won't be penalized. But we will have to file an alternate plan,'' said Dave Perkins, chairman of the SAD 51 board of directors.
Falmouth could face a loss in state aid of almost $500,000 if it cannot come up with an acceptable plan, said Department of Education spokesman David Connerty-Marin.
Connerty-Marin said Falmouth's options are renegotiating a plan with SAD 51, seeking a new partner or developing a stand-alone plan that meets the standards of the law.
Falmouth Superintendent George Entwistle said the Falmouth School Board is likely to pursue the latter option, given public sentiment.
Falmouth voted to reject the merger by 4,488 to 2,309.
Entwistle sees that as a mandate to pursue a stand-alone district, although the final decision is the School Board's.
''The vote was not even close. A 2-to-1 margin is clearly a 'no,' that we do not want to go in that direction (consolidation),'' he said.
Entwistle believes that Falmouth can craft a plan that meets the state criteria, possibly by sharing some costs, for example, with municipal government.
He said other comparably sized districts have been approved as stand-alone districts.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=221303&ac=PHnws
Falmouth, SAD 51 may each try to go it alone
By DENNIS HOEY
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
The towns of Cumberland, Falmouth and North Yarmouth find themselves facing a rapidly approaching deadline for satisfying the state's school reorganization law.
Voters in Cumberland and North Yarmouth overwhelmingly approved a reorganization plan on Nov. 4, but their proposed partner, Falmouth, negated the merger by defeating the plan.
Falmouth's decision means that School Administrative District 51 – which covers Cumberland and North Yarmouth – and Falmouth must each develop a plan before the Jan. 30 deadline or face state penalties.
Officials from those school districts said it seems likely that each district will seek state approval for stand-alone school systems.
However, there is no guarantee that Education Commissioner Susan Gendron will approve their plans, leaving Falmouth, in particular, exposed to a possible penalty.
''We've met with the commissioner on two occasions, and both times she has said that we won't be penalized. But we will have to file an alternate plan,'' said Dave Perkins, chairman of the SAD 51 board of directors.
Falmouth could face a loss in state aid of almost $500,000 if it cannot come up with an acceptable plan, said Department of Education spokesman David Connerty-Marin.
Connerty-Marin said Falmouth's options are renegotiating a plan with SAD 51, seeking a new partner or developing a stand-alone plan that meets the standards of the law.
Falmouth Superintendent George Entwistle said the Falmouth School Board is likely to pursue the latter option, given public sentiment.
Falmouth voted to reject the merger by 4,488 to 2,309.
Entwistle sees that as a mandate to pursue a stand-alone district, although the final decision is the School Board's.
''The vote was not even close. A 2-to-1 margin is clearly a 'no,' that we do not want to go in that direction (consolidation),'' he said.
Entwistle believes that Falmouth can craft a plan that meets the state criteria, possibly by sharing some costs, for example, with municipal government.
He said other comparably sized districts have been approved as stand-alone districts.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=221303&ac=PHnws
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
