Sunday, May 6, 2007
About the Author
Gov. John Baldacci is in his second term as Maine's chief executive.
A lot of water has gone under the bridge -- figuratively and literally -- since I proposed my budget in January.
Since then, much has happened. I've met with teachers, administrators and students, and I've made my case to business leaders and lawmakers.
Last week, Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature presented their visions of how to balance Maine's budget. Much of what they proposed goes a long way toward what I hoped to achieve when I unveiled my plans. While I have concerns about some of the ideas that came forward last week, I am confident we can find the right path forward for Maine.
My budget took a strategic approach to investing in Maine's future. I included increases in funding for higher education and new money for developing the business clusters that will create good-paying, sustainable, private-sector jobs.
If we want good jobs in the state, we have to make the investments in innovation that will help them thrive, and we have to make the investments in education that will create a highly trained work force.
I also proposed significant reforms to the structure of education from kindergarten through 12th grade and in the delivery of human services.
My plan will downsize school administration and invest savings on behalf of students, teachers and taxpayers. While many of the details are still being worked on in the Legislature, I remain committed to my original goals.
We must change now for the sake of quality education, to reduce the tax burden and to strengthen Maine's economy.
Since January, the Education and Appropriations committees have worked through waves of information and streams of paper to restructure school districts and achieve administrative savings. I applaud them for their bipartisan efforts.
As the Legislature enters the final stretch of its work on the reform of school administration, let me reiterate the tests I'll apply to any changes to my proposal:
nWe must achieve the level of sustainable savings I proposed. That's $36.5 million in the fiscal year 2008-2009 state budget. Predictable savings must also occur over the next two years.
nWe must commit to actual change. We can no longer afford simply to talk about the possibility of working together in new ways. School aid is 32 percent of the state budget. Of all property taxes in Maine, 63 percent pay for education.
nWe must achieve substantial cost efficiencies now. Parents, businesses and taxpayers want to invest in quality classroom education, not excess administration.
nWhile restructuring administration, we must support lo- cal schools. Local people must have a voice in their schools. Administrative change must not mandate school closings.
nWe must guarantee property-tax relief. Maine people want excellence in education and wise use of tax dollars. Over four years, the state has given schools $800 million in additional funding. Now taxpayers need a break.
As the state achieves its 55 percent share of school aid and as administrative efficiencies occur, school districts and municipalities must show their voters how school funds are spent. Local voters must have the final say on school budgets and property-tax relief.
Sustainable savings, actual change now, local school support and local control of school spending and property-tax relief -- those are the principles I will hold to. I'll settle for nothing less from an amended version.
We can preserve what we treasure about our state while modernizing the way we deliver government services. We can bolster Maine values of frugality, participation, community preservation and investment in opportunity for our people by positive change in how we do government business.
In this era of information technology and changing markets, we're likely to lose the Maine identity if we don't use new tools to support our special people and place. We can no longer be satisfied just to tread water.
As after our recent weather shocks, Maine people are facing the challenge of school administration restructuring. Educators, legislators, communities and business representatives have rolled up their sleeves and are working to move Maine into the 21st century of school administration, education investment and fair taxation.
I'm confident that, when all storm clouds have cleared during this legislative session, Maine people will have a new school district structure I can support, that is more efficient and improves the quality of education.
-- Special to the Telegram
Questions/Comments
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Since they have removed the people from the process, I say a state wide initiative should focus on removing the legislatures on election day that support this. The next couple of years will be out the incumbents.
report abuse
Nice buzz words.
Little substance.
*YAWN*report abuse
One meaning of balanced is that it meets the needs of the different sections of Maine. Large geographic school districts with 2,500 students are too big for rural Maine. The Rural Caucus proposal of 1,200 students as the minimum size for a school district is fair for rural Maine. York and Cumberland counties would be required to have 2,500 student districts.
Another is the choice of school governance type. The Rural Caucus plan leaves a choice for school districts of either an SAD with one large school board for a district or a School Union where each town shares a central office and other services but each town still has control of their school through a local school committee.
Taking away the control of local schools from towns and current school districts is unfair to Maine citizens. Some would like to take the assets of current schools into a larger district without compensation to the towns and leave them with the debt of the school. This is unfair.
The Appropriations Committee bill also sets a deadline of school goverance consolidation by July 1, 2008. This is a compressed time frame. The new school districts would be "suggested" by the State Department of Eduaction and the school "realignment" process would be "moderated" by DOE facilitators.
The Rural Caucus plan accomplishes the same thing over two years by July 1, 2009 and first gets school systems working together and then leads to consolidation. Towns also get a binding vote under the Rural Caucus plan and also lets current districts consolidate or share services with the DOE as a "support" role and not the "overseer". Maine needs tax relief and the Rural Caucus plan accomplishes Ed. Reform in a democratic and fair way. It also leaves local control. I hope the Governor would support this plan. It meets his savings goals and is fair to Maine.report abuse
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