|
Consolidation Changes Minimal in 2008; Budget Challenges More Significant
Below I have summarized the portion of the State Budget, passed in 2007, which required
the formation of Regional School Units of 2,500 students or more by July 1, 2009. During the enormous struggle over
this bill, I was proud to help secure recognition for certified "high-performing, efficient" districts like those in M.S.A.D.
75, as well as an exemption for school districts like Gardiner's, which has allowed Richmond to unite instead with smaller,
more like-minded communities.
While some changes to the newly required process were made in spring of 2008, these changes
did not significantly impact M.S.A.D. 75 or Richmond´s schools. However, the tough
state budget situation did lead to a decrease of 2 to 3% in the expected state contribution to local schools. In
the larger scheme of things, however, it is important to keep in mind that the state contribution to our schools has
in fact increased dramatically in the last several years, and that schools and DHHS programs together now represent
over 80% of the state budget. In particular, the skyrocketing costs of energy and health care continue to affect school,
state, and personal budgets alike.
While I am more optimistic today that considation may actually work for my own communities,
I also believe we have failed to plan realistically for transitional costs. For this reason, I have consistently voted
to allow maximum local control within the consolidation process, provided that both student learning and efficiency be
maximized as well.
I encourage you to read the information below, and to contact me with your thoughts.
|
| To close any school, the town served will need to approve the closure by a 2/3 majority. |
Summary of the Bipartisan School Consolidation Law
Enacted June 2007
1. Timeline
• Districts whose plans are ready in December will vote in January 2008. Districts
whose plans are not ready in December will vote on June 10, 2008 on consolidation.
• The Commissioner must provide
a written statement to the districts that submitted plans failing to meet statutory requirements with the reasons for the
failure of these plans.
• School administrative units must exercise due diligence and act in good faith in developing
a reorganization plan.
2. Penalties. Penalties begin on July 1, 2009 for districts that have voted not to consolidate
or that remain alone, but do not submit a plan for meeting efficiencies.
• Administrative funding will be cut by
50 percent,
• Minimum receivers will experience a 50 percent cut in subsidy,
• Districts voting not to consolidate
will not be eligible for transitional funding,
[Note: This amendment removes the penalty that made non-complying school
districts ineligible for the isolated small school adjustment. It also removes the percentage increase of the unit's mill
rate.]
3. Incentives. To encourage districts to consolidate, districts will:
• Receive transitional
funding
• Receive state funds based on the statewide State share of 55% of total educational funding.
•
[Note: School units that do not consolidate or receive a waiver will receive State funds that remain at the current State
share of General Purpose Aid, which is 53.86%].
4. Reorganization Plan and Spending on Essential Programs and Services. The reorganization plan must address
how the district will reorganize administrative, special education, transportation, and maintenance functions, in a manner
that will not adversely affect instructional programs.
5. "Doughnut Hole." Districts exercising due diligence with respect to consolidation
but experience rejection by all other surrounding districts to be included in consolidation will be exempt from consolidation
with another unit, but still required to submit a plan for meeting efficiencies.
6. High performing and highly efficient districts. School units whose administrative costs are less
than four percent [4%] and who have at least three high performing schools are exempt from consolidation, but required to
submit a plan to meet efficiencies. The Department of Education will work with the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee
to develop a statutory definition of a "high performing, efficient district."
7. Number of Units.
• The intent of school consolidation is to provide sustainable, long-term
administrative efficiencies to be achieved by consolidating the current number of school units existing on the effective date
of this Act into 80 regional units or into a number of units that meets the administrative efficiencies established by this
Part.
• The commissioner may not disapprove a plan for reorganization solely on the ground that approval would cause
the number of regional school units in the State to exceed 80 units.
8. Size of Regional School Units. Regional School Units must be comprised of at least 2500 students
except where circumstances justify an exception. School units qualifying for an exception must be comprised of at least 1200
students. Off-shore island and tribal schools may be comprised of fewer than 1200 students.
9. Elementary school budgets. A municipality within a regional school unit may raise and spend additional
funds for any school serving grades kindergarten through Grade 8 in that municipality.
10. Cost Sharing Agreements. Cost sharing agreements pursuant to certain laws remain in effect unless
the parties to the agreement modify or terminate the agreement.
11. Closure of schools. No school will be closed without a two-thirds vote of the town previously
served by that school.
12. Contracts. Existing contracts will be honored, and then renegotiated by the new Regional
School Board.
|
