George Crawford of Harrington, ME The DOE has been not explaining things in a "straight forward and clear manner" since the big push towards consolidation last year. First the new districts were supposed to be called, Regional Learning Communities instead of school districts. During the Governor and Commissioner Gendron's travels last spring to push their plan they really didn't answer questions in a clear and straightforward way. David Connerty-Marin waa hired by the DOE as a publicity person. The whole consolidation push has had a PR spin on in.
What the state is trying to do is to take over Maine schools and cut state subsidy while saying they are covering 55% of education costs. $36 million dollars was cut from special education, transportation, and maintenance of buildings to cover this amount.
School Administrative Consolidation was put on as a way to save money. Most RPCs that are developing consolidation plans
haven't found savings. Many have found increase cost and cost shifting as the new districts develop cost sharing formulas. RPCs are finding that the subsidy from the state is now being given to the new RSU as one big chunk and needs to be divided by the cost sharing formula devloped by the district.
Consolidation has been pushed as cost saving measure. It takes away local control and local say in schools. It also created an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy in the larger Superintendent's Offices and that will be less responsive to the needs of local schools.Maine doesn't need consolidation as has been pushed by the Governor and DOE. Jim Rier's "carefully chosen word" are words that are misleading especially when quoted as a soundbite. Maine doesn't need this mess. Cooperation between schools districts can save money. Larger districts and more state control aren't an answer for a better quality of education for Maine students. This law should be repealed and other alternatives explored.report abuse

Clyde Dyar of Mount Vernon, ME There is just something wrong with a department that "has to explain" what was said.....talk about your slight of hand. Why can't we be "honest" and stop trying to use confusing language to serve the Governor of this state. "Just say no" and go back to the drawing board with a good task force to do it right. School consolidation is not a bad thing but I believe that incentives to consolidate are better than a sledgehammer approach. Taking 36.5 million from the school funding is not saving us any money. Dropping the percentage to fund education from 55% to 48% is not saving us money.....trying to balance the budget on the backs of property taxpayers is "JUST WRONG" and thats what is happening to school consolidation. Stop the confusion and say "time out" until everyone is on the same page.report abuse