It’s easy to understand the resentment that lingers for Maine’s School District Consolidation Law. From the start, its directives and penalties made clear to local boards and educators that local interests wouldn’t count for much.
But as it turned out, local initiative does count for something, and, one way or another, York County communities have largely achieved arrangements that comply with the revised law.
We see little to be gained ”“ and many potential problems ”“ if the School District Consolidation law is summarily repealed. So we urge a vote of No on Question 3.
The Legislature passed the initial school consolidation bill in 2007 requiring districts of fewer than 2,500 students to reconfigure ”“ with certain exceptions ”“ with the goal of reducing the state’s school district from 290 to approximately 80, and ultimately, to save the state money.
The opposition fell short of collecting enough signatures to get a repeal question on the ballot in November 2008. Meanwhile, school districts across the state proceeded with talks, plans and actions to abide by the new laws and avoid penalties. The 98 school districts that reorganized into 26 regional school units opened their doors this fall ”“ many with new names and configurations ”“ after years of hard work by community residents and school committees.
To effectively repeal the school consolidation law, this question should have been before voters a year ago when it could have made a difference. It should have been on the ballot before reorganization committees spent countless hours on plans for regional school units.
Question 3 seeks to return to the status quo of 2007, without any guidance of how this might actually occur. How would the schools of Dayton, Old Orchard Beach and Saco, now collaborating as Regional School Unit 23, disengage?
According to the attorney general’s analysis, published in this year’s referendum guide, this issue would have to be addressed by the Legislature. It’s likely that Augusta would allow RSUs to become old-fashioned School Administrative Districts, but there is no certainty that the Legislature would do so promptly.
In the case of RSU 23, the new arrangement would also have to be ratified by the voters of all three towns, opening the door for a potentially messy and expensive divorce.
There is disagreement over the extent of money that will actually be saved by consolidation. But if the law is repealed, about $37 million that the state anticipated saving on aid to education will have to be accounted for.
It’s hard to see where that money would be found. After the state announced school funding curtailment last year to the tune of nearly $30 million, local school committees were shown a glimpse of the future. As the state continues to tighten its belt, cuts will come inevitably to education funding.
So while penalties may be eliminated by passing Question 3, and earlier funding formulas may be reinstated, the funds that the state has booked as consolidation savings won’t be returned to local districts, no matter which way the vote goes.
— Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen Schulze Muszynski or Nick Cowenhoven at 282-1535 or kristenm@journaltribune.com or nickc@journaltribune.com.
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