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Log inLow on options, two districts may merge
Low on options, two districts may merge
by Outspoken on Mon Dec 01, 2008 5:28 am
Low on options, two districts may merge
Acton and Wells-Ogunquit will discuss consolidating, although some in Wells want to stay independent.
By ANN S. KIM
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
School officials from Acton and the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District will meet Tuesday to discuss a possible partnership that would put them in compliance with the state's consolidation law.
The districts are considering an "alternative organizational structure," an option that was added this year to the original 2007 legislation. The law aims to cut down on administrative costs by having most of the state's 288 districts consolidate into about 80 units.
Communities that do not have voter-approved consolidation plans in place by Jan. 30 face possible financial penalties, such as a 50 percent reduction in state aid for some districts, a loss in state money for administrative costs and lower standing for school construction projects.
The Wells-Ogunquit and Acton districts are among a handful in the state that do not have consolidation plans that have been approved or prepared. Each district looked at other possible partners before turning to each other.
The meeting on Tuesday will start the conversation between the districts. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Acton Elementary School.
There remains strong sentiment among Wells-Ogunquit officials that the district should be allowed to stand alone under an exception to the consolidation law known as the "doughnut hole," said Matthew Chase, a school board member. That exception involves districts with at least 1,200 students that have tried to consolidate but have not found willing partners among their neighbors. Wells-Ogunquit has about 1,463 students.
The Wells-Ogunquit district has looked into partnerships with Kittery, York, Arundel and School Administrative District 71 – the district for Kennebunk and Kennebunkport – without success.
The request by the Wells-Ogunquit district to stand alone has not been formally rejected by the Maine Department of Education. Such a denial would start a 30-day window in which a district could appeal the decision.
"It's kind of frustrating for us," Chase said.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=225024&ac=PHnws
Acton and Wells-Ogunquit will discuss consolidating, although some in Wells want to stay independent.
By ANN S. KIM
Staff Writer Portland Press Herald
School officials from Acton and the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District will meet Tuesday to discuss a possible partnership that would put them in compliance with the state's consolidation law.
The districts are considering an "alternative organizational structure," an option that was added this year to the original 2007 legislation. The law aims to cut down on administrative costs by having most of the state's 288 districts consolidate into about 80 units.
Communities that do not have voter-approved consolidation plans in place by Jan. 30 face possible financial penalties, such as a 50 percent reduction in state aid for some districts, a loss in state money for administrative costs and lower standing for school construction projects.
The Wells-Ogunquit and Acton districts are among a handful in the state that do not have consolidation plans that have been approved or prepared. Each district looked at other possible partners before turning to each other.
The meeting on Tuesday will start the conversation between the districts. It will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Acton Elementary School.
There remains strong sentiment among Wells-Ogunquit officials that the district should be allowed to stand alone under an exception to the consolidation law known as the "doughnut hole," said Matthew Chase, a school board member. That exception involves districts with at least 1,200 students that have tried to consolidate but have not found willing partners among their neighbors. Wells-Ogunquit has about 1,463 students.
The Wells-Ogunquit district has looked into partnerships with Kittery, York, Arundel and School Administrative District 71 – the district for Kennebunk and Kennebunkport – without success.
The request by the Wells-Ogunquit district to stand alone has not been formally rejected by the Maine Department of Education. Such a denial would start a 30-day window in which a district could appeal the decision.
"It's kind of frustrating for us," Chase said.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=225024&ac=PHnws
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Plato (427-347 BC)
