1 / 30

THE NEW STATE OF MAINE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION LAW JUNE 2007

THE NEW STATE OF MAINE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION LAW JUNE 2007. OPENING DISCLAIMER….

chi
Download Presentation

THE NEW STATE OF MAINE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION LAW JUNE 2007

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. THE NEW STATE OF MAINE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION LAWJUNE 2007

  2. OPENING DISCLAIMER… • IN A NUTSHELL, …DUE TO THE INCREDIBLY HARD WORK OF A SMALL GROUP OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS FROM OUR TOWNS DURING THE FINAL DAYS AND HOURS LEADING UP TO THE ENACTMENT OF THIS NEW LAW, THERE IS NOW ENOUGH LEEWAY IN THE FINAL LANGUAGE OF THE LAW ITSELF WHICH ALLOWS A PLAN TO BE DEVELOPED BY OUR REORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE US WITH THE OPPORTUNITES TO MAINTAIN TO A VERY LARGE DEGREE THE PRESENT STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS… • (SPECIAL THANKS TO BRIAN HUBBELL FOR HIS TIRELESS WORK ON THE MDI SCHOOLS WEBSITE ON THIS ISSUE)http://sparkflashgap.net/School/SchoolConsolidationReferences.html • WHAT FOLLOWS IS A LENGTHY PRESENTATION OF THE ACTUAL BILL ITSELF, WHICH IS INTENDED TO BE AN ACCURATE SUMMARY OF THE DETAILS, AND TO PROVIDE A MECHANISM TO CLARIFY ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AS TO HOW THIS NEW LAW WILL AFFECT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY

  3. THE INTENT OF THE LAW It is declared the policy of the State to provide sufficient resources to support the reorganization of school administrative units into regional, state-approved units of school administration to provide: • Equitable educational opportunity for all students to demonstrate achievement of the content standards of the State’s system of learning results • Rigorous academic programs that meet the requirements of the system of learning results and that prepare students for college, careers and citizenship • Uniformity in the delivery of academic programs that meet the requirements of the system of learning results • A greater uniformity of tax rates for the support of schools • The efficient use of limited resources in order to achieve long-term sustainability and predictability in the support of public schools • Effective use of the public funds expended for the support of public schools by means of: A.The creation of cost-efficient organizational structures and B. Administrative structures and efficiencies that permit the organized and regular delivery of uniform state-sponsored professional development programs to promote coherence and consistency in the understanding and application of the State’s standards-based system for continuous improvement in student achievement • The preservation of opportunities for choice of schools • The maximization of opportunities to deliver services that can more effectively be provided in larger districts than from within smaller units or individual schools

  4. WILL SCHOOL UNION 98 BECOME REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT #8???

  5. A REVIEW OF OUR PRESENT SCHOOL STRUCTURE • SCHOOL UNION 98 CONSISTS OF SEVEN TOWNS WITH NINE SCHOOLS (MDI HIGH SCHOOL, CONNERS-EMERSON, PEMETIC, MOUNT DESERT ELEMENTARY, TREMONT, ISLESFORD, CRANBERRY, FENCHBORO AND SWANS ISLAND). UNION 98 SCHOOLS DEVELOP TEN SEPARATE BUDGETS IN ORDER TO OPERATE THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS • THE UNION 98 OFFICE EXISTS MAINLY TO PROVIDE SUPERINTENDENT SERVICES TO ALL OF THE MEMBER SCHOOLS…THIS OFFICE ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES TO SCHOOLS IN THE AREAS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, CURRICULUM, AND TECHNOLOGY • EACH SCHOOL HAS ITS OWN SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A SEPARATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO MAINTAIN THE BUILDING • THE STRUCTURES FOR SCHOOL GOVERNANCE INCLUDE SIX MUNICIPALITIES, ONE CSD (MDI HIGH SCHOOL) AND ONE SAD (SWANS ISLAND), ALL OF WHICH MAKE UP A SCHOOL UNION • THE HIGH SCHOOL CSD HAS FOUR MEMBER TOWNS (BAR HARBOR, MOUNT DESERT, SOUTHWEST AND TREMONT) AND IS GOVERNED BY A PRIVATE AND SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE DATING BACK TO 1963 • MDI HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLS APPROXIMATELY 150 TUITION STUDENTS…FROM UNION 98 (CRANBERRY, FRENCHBORO AND SWANS) AND FROM SURROUNDING TOWNS (TRENTON, LAMOINE AND HANCOCK) • THE NEW CONSOLIDATION LAW WILL DISSOLVE ALL OF OUR SCHOOL STRUCTURES NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2009

  6. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION LAW: • ALL SCHOOLS MUST REORGANIZE AND BECOME REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS (RSUs) BY JULY 1, 2009 • THE INTENT OF THE LAW IS TO REORGANIZE THE 290 PRESENT SCHOOL UNITS IN MAINE TO A TARGET NUMBER OF 80 REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS (RSUs) ACROSS THE STATE OF MAINE • LAST MINUTE AMMENDMENTS TO THE PROPOSED LAW BEFORE FINAL APPROVAL WERE INTENDED TO ALLOW FOR GREATER LOCAL CONTROL OF THE FORMATION AND OPERATION OF NEW REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS • CHANGES WILL NOT BE IN EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR

  7. REQUIRED TIMELINES: • THE DOE WILL CONVENE PUBLIC MEETINGS IN THE 26 VOCATIONAL REGIONS BETWEEN JUNE 18TH AND JULY 15, 2007 (JUNE 28TH, 7 PM AT THE HOLIDAY INN IN ELLSWORTH) TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS FOR REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS INTO RSUs AND PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR THE FORMATION OF REGIONAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEES • ALL SCHOOL UNITS MUST FILE A LETTER OF INTENT TO REORGANIZE WITH POTENTIAL PARTNERS OR FILE AN ALTERNATE PLAN BY AUGUST 31, 2007 • A REORGANIZATION PLAN MAY BE SUBMITTED TO THE DOE BY DECEMBER 1, 2007 (THE FAST TRACK PLAN) • THE DOE MAY ASK FOR REVISIONS TO THE SUBMIITTED PLAN BY DECEMBER 15, 2007 • IF A PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE DOE, THEN THE PLAN WILL GO TO THE VOTERS OF EACH POTENTIAL MEMBER TOWN FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE PROPOSED NEW RSU ON JANUARY 15, 2008 (by majority vote in each town) • IF THE PLAN IS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THEN THE NEW RSU WILL BE CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND COMMENCE OPERATION ON JULY 1, 2008 AFTER HIRING A NEW SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE RSU THAT SPRING AND DEVELOPING A NEW RSU BUDGET FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR • A REFERENDUM MAY ALSO BE HELD ON JUNE 10, 2008 OR NOVEMBER 8, 2008 WHICH WOULD ALLOW A NEW RSU TO COMMENCE OPERATION ON JULY 1, 2009 • SCHOOL UNITS THAT DO NOT CONSOLIDATE BY JULY 1, 2009 WILL BE DEEMED TO BE “NON-CONFORMING” AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO PENALTIES AS SPELLED OUT IN THE NEW LAW

  8. CHOOSING PARTNERS: • TOWNS WILL BE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN PARTNERS FOR CONSOLIDATION • THE “MAPS” THAT WERE RECENTLY DISTRIBUTED BY THE DOE WERE ONLY MEANT TO BE A STARTING POINT FOR “CONVERSATIONS” • THESE MAPS SHOWED THE TOWNS ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND JOINING WITH THE TOWN OF TRENTON TO FORM A NEW RSU…THE OFFSHORE ISLAND SCHOOLS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE MAP FROM THE DOE • TOWNS WILL BEGIN THE DISCUSSION OF WHO TO PARTNER WITH DURING THE COMING SUMMER MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST INFORMATIONAL PUBLIC REORGANIZATION MEETINGS ARE HELD THIS LATE JUNE OR EARLY JULY

  9. WHAT ABOUT THE ISLANDS?: • THE OFFSHORE ISLANDS NOT CONNECTED BY A BRIDGE TO THE MAINLAND (ISLESFORD, CRANBERRY, FRENCHBORO AND SWANS) ARE SPECIFICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CONSOLIDATION PROCESS BY LAW • THEY WILL NEED TO EITHER FILE AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN TO DEAL WITH THEIR REORGANIZATION AS RSU’S OR THEY MAY CONSIDER ORGANIZING WITH THE TOWNS ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND WHEN THAT RSU IS FORMED • THEIR PLANS MUST INCLUDE A METHOD TO ACCESS SUPERINTENDENT OFFICE SERVICES

  10. THE REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE: • GUIDELINES FOR THE FORMATION OF THE REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE WILL BE DEVELOPED BY THE DOE • THE COMMITTEE WILL MOST LIKELY INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH SCHOOL BOARD, THE MUNICIPALITIES AND MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC • THESE COMMITTEES WILL BE FORMED AFTER THE INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS ARE HELD DURING JULY IN EACH VOCATIONAL REGION • THE REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE MUST HOLD ONE OR MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS DURING THE PROCESS TO GATHER CITIZEN INPUT

  11. REQUIREMENTS OF AN RSU PLAN: A reorganization plan must include: (1) The units of school administration to be included in the proposed reorganized regional school unit; (2) The size, composition and apportionment of the governing body; (3) The method of voting of the governing body; (4) The composition, powers and duties of any local school committees to be created; (5) The disposition of real and personal school property; (6) The disposition of existing school indebtedness and lease-purchase obligations (7) The assignment of school personnel contracts, school collective bargaining agreements and other school contractual obligations; (8) The disposition of existing school funds and existing financial obligations, including undesignated fund balances, trust funds, reserve funds and other funds appropriated for school purposes; (9) A transition plan that addresses the development of a budget for the first school year of the reorganized unit and interim personnel policies; (10) Documentation of the public meeting or public meetings held to prepare or review the reorganization plan; (11) An explanation of how units that approve the reorganization plan will proceed if one or more of the proposed members of the regional school unit fail to approve the plan; (12) An estimate of the cost savings to be achieved by the formation of a regional school unit and how these savings will be achieved; and (13) Such other matters as the governing bodies of the school administrative units in existence on the effective date of this chapter may determine to be necessary.

  12. REORGANIZATION PARAMETERS: In order for the plan to be approved by the commissioner, the governing bodies of school administrative units shall work within the following parameters: • (1) The proposed regional school unit must serve not fewer than 2,500 students, except where circumstances relating to the following factors justify an exception: (a) Geography, including physical proximity and the size of the current school administrative unit; (b) Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition and nature of communities in the regional school unit; (c) Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized; (d) Transportation; (e) Population density including the rural nature of our communities; or (f) Other unique circumstances including the need to preserve existing or developing relationships, meet the needs of students, maximize educational opportunities for students and ensure equitable access to rigorous programs for all students. When circumstances justify an exception to the size requirement of 2,500 students, the unit must serve as close to 2,500 students as possible and in no case, except for coastal islands and schools operated by tribal school committees, may it serve fewer than 1,200 students. School districts that are deemed to be high performing and efficient (5 systems state-wide--Hampden, Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth, and Kingfield--must have at least three units in this category) are exempt from the requirement to consolidate • (2) The plan must provide comprehensive programming for all students from kindergarten to grade 12 and must include at least one publicly supported secondary school. • (3) The plan may not displace teachers or students or close any schools existing and operating during the school year immediately preceding reorganization • (4) A school unit may be allowed to continue at its present size if after due diligence is unable to meet the 2500 student enrollment requirement due to the reorganization of geographically proximate communities (donut-hole rule) • (5) Each reorganization plan must demonstrate how it plans to reorganize administrative functions, duties and non-instructional personnel so that the projected expenditures for system administration, transportation, special education and facilities and maintenance will not have an adverse impact on the instructional program

  13. ADJUSTMENTS TO STATE SUBSIDY: • AS PART OF THIS NEW CONSOLIDATION LAW, AND IN ORDER TO SAVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT APPROXIMATELY 36 MILLION DOLLARS, THE FOLLOWING REDUCTIONS WILL BE MADE IN STATE SUBSIDY AMOUNTS BEGINNING IN 2008-2009: • A 5% REDUCTION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION • A 5% REDUCTION IN OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE • A 5% REDUCTION IN TRANSPORTATION • A 50% REDUCTION IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE COSTS

  14. RSU GOVERNANCE AND VOTING POWER: • NEW RSU’s WILL BE GOVERNED BY AN ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS • THE BOARD MUST INCLUDE AT LEAST ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH MUNICIPALITY • VOTING POWER MUST FOLLOW THE ONE PERSON-ONE VOTE PRINCIPLE AND DIRECTORS MAY BE ELECTED BY COMPARABLE SUB DISTRICTS, EQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF 1000 VOTES BY POPULATION SIZE OF THE TOWN, OR BY A PROCESS OF AT-LARGE VOTING IN THE ENTIRE DISTRICT • THE DISTRICT BOARD IS ALLOWED TO FORM LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND ASSIGN THEM POWERS AND DUTIES AS THEY SO CHOOSE TO INCLUDE LOCAL VOTING POWER ON EACH TOWN’S K-8 PORTION OF THE DISTRICT BUDGET

  15. WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND BOARDS AND OUR PRESENT UNION STRUCTURE? • ALL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES CEASE TO EXIST NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2009 • THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NEW RSU WILL TAKE OVER THE OPERATION OF ALL OF THE SCHOOLS WHEN THE NEW RSU IS CERTIFIED • ALL THE SCHOOL STRUCTURES NOW IN PLACE EXCEPT THE HIGH SCHOOL CSD, WHICH WAS CREATED BY PRIVATE AND SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE IN 1963, WILL BE DISBANDED WHEN THE NEW RSU IS IN PLACE

  16. THE NEW REGIONAL BOARD’S POWERS AND DUTIES: • ONCE THE NEW RSU IS CERTIFED AND OPERATIONAL, THE NEWLY ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES BY LAW: • MAY SELECT AN UNOFFICIAL NAME FOR THE RSU • MAY ELECT A FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THREE OR MORE MEMBERS WHO MUST BE DIRECTORS • SHALL AUTHORIZE AND OVERSEE THE OPERATION OF SCHOOLS WITHIN THE RSU • MAY PURCHASE LAND FOR NEW SCHOOLS • SHALL DEVELOP BYLAWS FOR THE REGULATION OF THE AFFAIRS OF THE RSU • MAY ACCEPT AND RECEIVE GIFTS OF MONEY OR PROPERTY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES • MAY CREATE LOCAL SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SPECIFY THEIR POWERS AND DUTIES WITHIN THE RSU • SHALL MAINTAIN A REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT THAT MAINTAINS A PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES KINDERGARTEN TO GRADE 12

  17. THE BUDGETING PROCESS: • AN RSU BUDGET (OR BUDGETS) MUST BE APPROVED AT A DISTRICT BUDGET MEETING (OR MEETINGS) • THE RSU BUDGET(S) MUST BE APPROVED BY A REFERENDUM VOTE (OR A SERIES OF REFERENDUMS) BEGINNING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A SCHOOL UNIT AGREES TO CONSOLIDATE OR NOT • BUDGETING FOR THE K-8 PROGRAM MAY BE DEVELOPED, APPROVED AND ASSESSED IN THE TOWNS WHERE EACH OF THE K-8 SCHOOLS OPERATE • THE HIGH SCHOOL PORTION OF THE RSU BUDGET WILL STILL FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL AS DETAILED IN THE PRIVATE AND SPECIAL ACT THAT CREATED THE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966 WITH THE ADDITION OF A REFERENDUM VOTE IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITES THAT FORM THE CSD TO BE HELD WITHIN 10 DAYS OF THE CSD ANNUAL MEETING • THE PORTION OF THE RSU BUDGET THAT IS SHARED BY ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES (THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET FOR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION, FORMERLY THE UNION 98 OFFICE BUDGET) MUST BE APPROVED AT A DISTRICT WIDE BUDGET MEETING WITH A REFERENDUM TO FOLLOW FOR FINAL APPROVAL

  18. BUDGET TRANSPARENCY: • THE RSU BUDGET (OR BUDGETS) MUST BE PRESENTED IN AN EPS COST CENTERED FORMAT WITH EACH AREA COMPARED TO THAT OF A HIGH PERFORMING RSU OF SIMILAR SIZE: • REGULAR INSTRUCTION • SPECIAL EDUCATION • CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION • OTHER INSTRUCTION (SUMMER SCHOOL AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR • STUDENT AND STAFF SUPPORT • SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION • SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION • TRANSPORTATION AND BUSSES • FACILITIES MAINTENANCE • DEBT SERVICE AND OTHER COMMITMENTS • ALL OTHER EXPENDITURES, INCUDING SCHOOL LUNCH NOTE: THE RSU BOARD MAY AUTHORIZE NO MORE THAN A 5% TRANSFER BETWEEN THESE COST CENTERS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR WITHOUT VOTER APPROVAL

  19. COST SHARING BETWEEN TOWNS: • THE K-8 PORTION OF OF THE RSU BUDGET MAY BE RAISED AND ASSESSED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN EACH TOWN • THE SHARED DISTRICT OFFICE SECTION OF THE RSU BUDGET MUST BE SHARED BY THE PROPORTIONAL ENROLLMENT PERCENTAGE OF EACH TOWN MAKING UP THE NEW RSU (VERY CLOSE TO THE WAY THE UNION BUDGET COSTS ARE NOW ASSESSED TO EACH TOWN) • THE HIGH SCHOOL PORTION OF THE RSU BUDGET MAY BE SHARED BETWEEN ALL TOWNS THAT MAKE UP THE CSD USING THE 33% ENROLLMENT AND 67% VALUATION FORMULA THAT THE PRIVATE AND SPECIAL ACT REQUIRES UNLESS THIS FORMULA IS MODIFED AT A LATER DATE • ALL TOWNS MUST RAISE A MINIMUM OF 2 MILS OF VALUATION TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN IN THE TOWNS THAT FORM THE NEW RSU (THIS MAY BE A PROBLEM FOR THE CRANBERRY ISLES AND POSSIBLY MOUNT DESERT) A PRIVATE AND SPECIAL ACT MAY BE NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AS PART OF OUR RSU PLAN

  20. TRANSFER OF TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES: • ALL TEACHERS AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES MUST BE TRANSFERRED AND EMPLOYED BY THE NEW REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WITH NEITHER A DECREASE OR AN INCREASE IN THE RIGHTS AND BENEFITS OF THE TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES OR EMPLOYER • ALL COLLECTIVE BARGAINING CONTRACTS WILL BE HONORED UNTIL THEIR EXPIRATION AND THEN A NEW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WILL BE NEGOTIATED WITH THE NEW RSU WHICH SHALL BE CONSIDERED A SINGLE EMPLOYER • AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE AFTER REORGANIZATION OF AN RSU, ALL PREVIOUS BARGAINING UNITS MUST BE STRUCUTRED ON A REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT BASIS (“COMMON CONTRACT”) • SUPERINTENDENT CONTRACTS WILL BE TRANSFERRED OVER TO THE NEW RSU AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL DETERMINE THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT’S DUTIES WITH THE NEW REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT

  21. SCHOOL OWNERSHIP, ASSETS AND DEBT: • THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NEW RSU WILL DECIDE WHICH SCHOOLS ARE NEEDED FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN IN THE NEW REGION AND THEN ASK THE MUNICIPAL OFFICERS OF EACH TOWN TO TRANSFER TITLE OF THE SCHOOL OVER TO THE NEW REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT (THIS MAY BE A PROBLEMATIC ISSUE, BUT WE HOPE TO ALLOW THIS REQUIREMENT TO BE MET BY A LONG-TERM LEASE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWNS AND THE RSU IN OUR PROPOSED PLAN FOR REORGANIZATION) • ALL PRESENT ASSESTS AND BALANCES IN THE ACCOUNTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS WILL BE TRANSFERRED OVER AND BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE NEW RSU • LOCAL ONLY DEBT WILL REMAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TOWN THAT ESTABLISHED THIS OBLIGATION UNLESS THE NEW RSU PLAN INCLUDES SHARING THE DEBT BETWEEN ALL THE TOWNS OF THE NEW RSU

  22. CLOSING OF SCHOOLS: • A 2/3 VOTE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NEW RSU WILL BE NEEDED TO CLOSE AN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL • AN INDIVIDUAL TOWN MAY VOTE TO KEEP THE SCHOOL IN QUESTION OPEN, BUT WILL BE SOLEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADDED COSTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAVED IF THE SCHOOL WERE TO HAVE BEEN CLOSED

  23. SCHOOL CHOICE?: • STUDENTS LIVING IN COMMUNITES THAT HAD A CHOICE OF HIGH SCHOOLS BEFORE THE NEW RSU WAS FORMED MAY STILL EXERCISE THIS SCHOOL CHOICE OPTION (CRANBERRY, FENCHBORO, SWANS, AND ANY PRESENT UNION 92 TOWNS THAT MAY BECOME PART OF OUR NEW RSU) • ???BUT HOW LONG WILL THIS OPTION SURVIVE WITH TRANSPORTATION, EQUITY AND FINANCE ISSUES ARISING VERY QUICKLY IN THE NEW RSU’S??

  24. REGIONAL COLLABORATION: • ALL NEW RSUs WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO SEEK OUT WAYS TO COLLABORATE ON A REGIONAL BASIS TO REDUCE SYSTEM COSTS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: • SHARED PURCHASING OR CONTRACT AGREEMENTS • AGREEMENTS FOR SHARED STAFF OR STAFF TRAINING • AGREEMENTS TO SHARE TECHNOLOGY OR TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT • AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT SERVICES • AGREEMENTS TO SHARE ACCOUNTING, PAYROLL AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES • AGREEMENTS TO COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION ROUTING AND VEHICLE MAINTENANCE • AGREEMENTS TO SHARE FOOD SERVICE PLANNING AND PURCHASING • AGREEMENTS TO COORDINATE ENERGY AND FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

  25. PENALTIES FOR NON-CONFORMING SCHOOL UNITS: • ELIGIBILITY FOR ONLY 50% OF THE MINIMUM STATE SUBSIDY (SPECIAL EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT) • SUBSIDY AMOUNTS FOR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION WILL BE FURTHER CUT IN HALF • NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR ANY TRANSITION ADJUSTMENTS • LESS FAVORABLE CONSIDERATION FOR APPROVAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STATE FUNDED SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

  26. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: • ORGANIZE REGIONAL INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS • PROVIDE MAPS OF PROPOSED REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS TO SERVE AS STARTING POINTS FOR REORGANIZATION DISCUSSIONS • PROVIDE TRAINED FACILITATORS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO ASSIST REGIONAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEES • REVIEW AND APPROVE OF ALL PROPOSED PLANS FOR REORGANIZATION • CONDUCT A REVIEW OF ALL UNFUNDED STATE MANDATES AND PREPARE A REPORT FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR RECONSIDERATION AND ADJSUTMENT AT A LATER DATE • CONDUCT A REVIEW AND SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE OUTCOME OF THE BUDGETARY AND REFERENDUM PROCESS ON A STATE-WIDE BASIS • ESTABLISH CLEAR CRITERIA FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF EFFICIENT AND HIGH PERFORMING REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS

  27. IN SUMMARY…HOW WILL OUR SCHOOLS BE STRUCTURED WHEN THIS IS OVER? • THE FUTURE STRUCTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS WILL ULTIMATELY DEPEND ON THE ACTIONS OF OUR REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE AND THE APPROVAL OF OUR VOTERS AT THE FORMATION REFERENDUM • EVEN THOUGH WE WILL BE AN RSU, THE LAW ALLOWS ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE OF OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL AS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL OF THE LOCAL PORTION OF THE RSU DISTRICT BUDGET • THE HIGH SCHOOL CSD FUNDING FORMULA WILL BE ALLOWED TO FUNCTION MUCH AS IT HAS FOR OVER 40 YEARS DUE TO ITS CREATION BY PRIVATE AND SPECIAL ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE

  28. WHAT ARE UNION 98’S NEXT STEPS? • UNION 98 MEETING ON MONDAY, JUNE 25TH AT 7 PM TO DISCUSS THE FORMATION OF A REORGANIZATION COMMITTEE AND EXPLORE FURTHER DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED LAW • VOCATIONAL REGION INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN ELLSWORTH ON THURSDAY, JUNE 28TH AT 7 PM RUN BY THE DOE TO EXPLAIN THE LAW, THE REORGANIZATION PROCESS AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS • PUBLIC MEETING TO BE ANNOUNCED IN EARLY JULY TO EXPLAIN THE LAW AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE

More Related