Voters weigh in on 18 reorganization votes

To date, 128 units consolidate into 62 regional units

January 28, 2009

AUGUSTA – Voters approved seven reorganization plans in referendum votes on Tuesday in 18 regions around the state. Voters rejected 11 reorganization plans in mixed votes.

Since the start of the process, voters have approved plans in 24 regions and turned down plans in 22 regions. One reorganization vote is still scheduled for March.

“I’m pleased to see the progress to date, and hopeful that all levels of government will continue to work toward streamlining in whatever ways are possible,” said Governor John E. Baldacci. “We're in a recession and resources will be thinner at all levels of government. We can't be satisfied with business as usual.”

“Maine has made great progress,” he said. “There are fewer school districts today than there were yesterday. In fact, actions so far by communities have consolidated 128 school districts into 62. But there’s more work to be done. Many of our smallest school systems did not get there. Change is always difficult, but we have seen most districts work well together to create more efficient administrative functions that will not only save taxpayers money, but will also preserve challenged resources for educational programming.”

Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron said the Department of Education will continue to work with districts that have voted for reform and with those that haven't to assure Maine's children receive the best education possible.

“We are turning our focus to the 24 regions where voters approved plans and we will be asssisting those school systems in transitioning to a regional unit,” said Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron. “We are already assisting the regions that voted to move forward in November with the work of combining budgets, computer systems, transportation, and other functions.

“And those who have not yet voted to reorganize, we are reaching out to every one of those school systems to see what they want to do next, and how we can help. We are not walking away from them.”

Gendron said a new team of independent facilitators is also working with those regions to focus solely on the educational planning process.

“How do you combine the educational programs, expertise, unique programs, curricula, and teaching philosophies of several units into one? That’s the work these facilitators are doing with the school systems,” said Gendron. The Department is providing facilitators and $5,000 planning grants.

To date, 284 out of the 290 school administrative units in the state have submitted locally-drafted plans that were approved by the Commissioner. More than half the regions that voted on reorganization plans approved their plans.

Gendron noted that approximately 80 percent of the students in the state are in school units that met the requirements of the law and were given final approval – by the voters, in the case of reorganization plans, and by the Commissioner for alternative plans.

A full tally of the status of all reorganization plans can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/education/reorg/plansandresponses.html . Click on the “Summary Chart” link.

David Connerty-Marin, Maine Department of Education, 207-624-6880

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Voters weigh in on 18 reorganization votes