The town of Belgrade Board of Selectpersons fully supports the Regional School Consolidation plan between Maine School Administrative District 47 (Belgrade, Oakland, Sidney and Rome) and the town of China developed by the Regional Planning Committee.

Our Regional Planning Committee (RPC) entered into consolidation discussions with two primary goals. First, educational quality and opportunity for our students should not be impaired, but enhanced and, second, any plan submitted would increase fiscal efficiencies between participating schools and provide real opportunities for savings to our communities.

This plan meets both goals and received the unanimous endorsement of Belgrade's representatives to the RPC.

The plan avoids the loss of future state funding due to declining enrollments in MSAD 47 and provides the only "realistic" opportunity to provide for a fair and equitable allocation of the Additional Local Funds necessary to provide quality education for our students among the participating towns.

Furthermore, the formula providing the cost allocation will not remain fixed, rather it will receive a meaningful review every five years by representatives for all the towns to assure future "fairness and equity."

We encourage voters to support this plan and to welcome the town of China in our mutual quest for quality and affordable education. Visit the district's Web site at: http://www.msad47.org/co/ to get the FAQs, study the plan and then join us in voting to approve the plan.

Dennis Keschl

Town Manager

Belgrade