I don't normally agree with Gov. Baldacci but from an economic perspective this makes all the sense in the world. I believe most school committees have pushed their budgets through most town meetings on the scare tactic that the children will suffer if the committee doesn't get everything they ask for. They seem to completely disregard town residents on fixed or limited incomes that don’t have the ability to pay huge increases each year. Many school budgets have increased higher than the rate of inflation for a number of years.

Cut some of the school district's administration and/or benefit packages of the administration otherwise costs will continue to soar. My hat is off to Susan Gendron and what she is trying to accomplish of providing adequate, comprehensive education at a cost affordable to “all” taxpayers, not just the wealthiest in the cities and towns of Maine.

What's BE?

I have frequently commented in the papers under Maine Today against school consolidation and thank the paper for the opportunity to do so. The push for consolidation will change rural schools in Maine in many different ways. Not only will the administration change but also the as part of the budget deal, schools are supposed to cut 5% out of maintenance, special education, and transportation.
The bill that passed is a little better for rural schools but takes away local control and moves it to a Regional School Board based on the SAD governance model. This will present problems for many small towns that have kept their schools open because they are School Unions. They town has had direct control over the schools and this has been lost to the new Regional School Board. Giving up the decision-making power to a regional authority is a step backwards in my opinion.
The smaller towns will also have less voting power on the regional board because the votes are based on school population out of 1000 votes. Many smaller towns will have limited voting rights and less of an opportunity to make decisions.
The administrative changes are supposed to save $36.5 million dollars and not $66 million. The other $30 million is in cuts from the transportation, special education, and also facilities and maintenance.
It would be nice to see a story or two on how how this new system of governance will effect rural eastern and northern Maine. Many people in rural areas fought against the bill.
As a teacher in a small school, I fell that within five years the bill will have a devastating impact on small rural schools and many will be closed. Many small towns depend on their school as a center of activity for the town that ties it together. It would be a shame to see this lost. It also is a shame that towns also must give their existing schools and their assets to the new regional districts without compensation.
The state has pulled a corporate takeover of Maine K-12 education. Th state says it now pays 55% and will tell you how to run things. Many things are lost because of this but hopefully a balance can be mandated with local input and controls and efficiencies.

The consolidation into 80 school districts is nothing more than the status quo insuring it's continued survival. Realizing declining school enrollments schools such as Rockland and Thomaston find themselves unable to qualify for new school state funding. Residents ask themselves why 30 teachers are needed in a school of 100 students. Solution -blend 30 teachers into 2500 pupil high schools. Never mind that the students in schools such as Mt. View (in the intial construction phase of a 43 million dollar high school has proposed busing students from as far away as Nortport, Belfast, Swanville, and Palermo. I'm sure parents and students will soon grow weary of getting up at 4 a.m. to get to school on time. Where will the transportation savings come from ?

Rich hit the nail on the head! The consolidation plan doesn't mention school closings specifically, but if you happen to live in a small district now, and the larger "parent" district decides to do away with your school in the future to save money, there will be no chance to fight it. They will have all the votes and all the power. Proportional representation in this case fails our children. I'll remember our dear Governor when I'm putting my middle schoolers on a bus for their 30-mile ride at 5AM. And I'll explain to them why they can't participate in after-school sports and other activities because there's no way they can get home afterwards. Augusta should show us the money - prove the savings before we have another boondoggle.