e-news Updates
Sign up for occasional updates on the progress of school administrative reorganization legislation. These updates will also provide information for teachers, administrators, parents, community members and others on the implementation phase once a final version passes the Legislature.
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e-News from the Maine Department of Education |
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School Systems Will Meet Target
Every school district but one submits by Dec. 1 deadline. It is likely that the final result will be less than 80 school districts.
Following an initial review of plans submitted to the Maine Department of Education by the Dec. 1 deadline, Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron said Friday it is likely the state will have fewer than 80 school administrative units, as was envisioned under the reorganization law passed June 7.
All but one of the state's existing 290 school administrative units submitted something to the Department or has a submission pending. Units submitted a total of 64 plans for regional school units of at least 1,200 students and 13 plans for units of less than 1,200. Three additional plans are expected in the coming days, and six units submitted letters in place of plans.
Read more...
View a chart showing all submissions to the Department. |
Bill to Remove Financial Barriers Gets Hearing Wednesday
The bill allows local cost-sharing agreements and removes disincentives to reorganization
AUGUSTA - A bill that removes unintended financial barriers in the school district reorganization law goes before the Legislature's Education Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 12. The Committee will hold a workshop the following day, and could vote on the bill then. The bill addresses three funding issues that have been identified as obstacles to some consolidation efforts.
It would allow districts to devise their own local cost-sharing agreements, would protect "minimum subsidy receivers" from losing subsidy if they join with another district, and would remove the minimum 2 mill requirement.
The bill is expected to go before the full House and Senate almost immediately after the Legislature returns to session on Jan. 2.
Read more...
View the bill text and guidance for school administrative units. |
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