Merging special-ed services may work for some, not others
Five school districts have already formed a program, and consolidation may persuade others to try it.
[October 18, 2007]

School districts struggle to reduce transportation bill
Administrators say they've already cut inefficiencies and may have
to eliminate some bus service.
[October 14, 2007]

Schools' merger power in the proper place
In the end, it will be voters, not bureaucrats, who will make the
final call on consolidation.
[October 10, 2007]

Gendron holds merger power, but is it too much?
Some say the law gives the education chief too much decision-making latitude.
[October 9, 2007]

Public votes on school budgets pose concerns
The mechanics and costs of the new requirement to get resident
approvals worry municipal clerks.
[October 8, 2007]

No easy answers for Bath, School Union 47
They could merge under state law or stick with their local plan.
[October 7, 2007]

Gendron: Some schools are hit too hard
The education chief says she'll push for flexibility when consolidation forces a cost burden on a system.
[October 5, 2007]

School proposal in York reveals 'cost-shift' snag
Residents of York, Wells and Ogunquit are wary of one aspect of
partnership.
[October 3, 2007]

Frustration on agenda as school merger discussions begin
Skepticism about savings, battles over control, and a lack of
information complicate the planning.
[September 30, 2007]

Researchers, bureaucrats, politicians left mark on law
Gov. Baldacci planted the idea of consolidating school districts in
2003.
[September 30, 2007]

'Barriers' discourage some school mergers
Maine's education chief says it could be cheaper for some districts to defy the law, despite penalties.
[September 27, 2007]

Critics target school mergers
State House: Attempts to repeal or weaken the consolidation law
face strong opposition in 2008, however.
[September 23, 2007]

Panel should move forward with new school project
Elementary-school consolidation can begin
in Portland with this difficult first step.
[September 19, 2007]

School districts with failed plans look to state
Most are doing well on consolidation, but rural systems say state help is needed to forge alliances.
[September 16, 2007]

Most school merger plans on track
About 80 percent of 290 school districts have had at least one plan OK'd, say state education officials.
[September 14, 2007]

267 school districts pass in assigned consolidation plans
The letters of intent in many cases express more than one possibility.
[September 1, 2007]

Closing Clifford needed step for city's schools
Portland's beloved elementary school is a casualty in necessary
consolidation.
[August 30, 2007]

Mergers: Some districts scramble
In several towns, plans for alliances are unsettled as Friday's deadline nears.
[August 29, 2007]

School consolidation will go better without foot-dragging
The state is making help available, but districts that resist action could end up worse off.
[July 30, 2007]

Budget, schools plan win approval
State House: Deadlines for consolidation are eased, as are penalties for districts that don't merge.
[June 7, 2007]

Skeptics pack school-plan forum
Many are concerned about the loss of jobs and local control under Baldacci's district consolidation plan.
[January 27, 2007]

Baldacci school plan has competition
State House: A key test for all five proposals is whether residents will give up local control.
[January 14, 2007]

Mixed reviews for school proposal
Details will be released today on the merger plan, which would cost most superintendents their jobs.
[January 5, 2007]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This page features a continuing series of stories by the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram that looks at the implications of Maine's school district consolidation law.
CONSOLIDATION LAW

Maine's consolidation law gives Education Commissioner Susan Gendron the power to:

- Tell local school districts whether their initial plans to merge or remain independent comply with the law.

- Interpret and apply exemptions in the law that allow some districts to have fewer than 2,500 students.

- Tell school districts that agree to merge how to plan for a merger. Approve or reject completed merger plans that are submitted to her.

- Decide whether new regional school boards for consolidated districts have been set up properly.



A complete list of the school district reorganization law is available at the Department of Education Web site:

Maine Department of Education

Additional Web Resources:

Maine Municipal Association

"A Primer for School Reorganization"

"New Era for School Consolidation"

Maine Heritage Policy Center