[Local-Maine-Schools] FW: Reorganization Law Update

[Tom Savielo]

All, I have a bill in specfic to das 58 but maybe we could use it as tool to get other things settled out. All have a merry christmas. Tom saviello

> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 10:08:50 -0500
> From: atlee at umd.edu
> To: local-maine-schools at mainetalk.org
> Subject: [Local-Maine-Schools] FW: Reorganization Law Update
> 
> The following was addressed to the list (and a large number of other 
> people who might or might not want their email addresses sent to the 
> list)...
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Subject: FW: Reorganization Law Update
> From: "Mark Robinson" <fayetttm at localnet.com>
> Date: Thu, 24 Dec 2009 09:45:53 -0500
> 
> All the best.   Mark
> 
> Mark Robinson, Town Manager
> Town of Fayette
> 2589 Main Street
> Fayette, Maine 04349
> phone (207) 685-4373
> facsimile (207) 685-9391
> e-mail: markrobinson at fayettemaine.com
> web site: www.fayettemaine.com
> 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Brooks, Dustin D.
> Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2009 2:30 PM
> Subject: Reorganization Law Update
> 
> We wanted to get around a full, pre-holiday update to you all on our 
> legislative and executive branch efforts.  Please feel free to forward 
> this to all involved parties for their information.
> 
> Earlier this month, Mark Robinson, Dick Gould and Dan Walker met with 
> Commissioner Gendron and delivered a letter to her that outlined our 
> requests.  I attach a copy of the letter for your information.  She was 
> very willing to discuss the issues with our delegation and they had a 
> good conversation about the issue.  She did say, though, that the 
> department would not be putting a bill forward on this matter.  She did 
> commit to discussing our requests with the governor and said she would 
> contact us with a follow up.  We have not yet heard from her, and Dan is 
> checking in with her office.
> 
> It should be noted that during their conversation, she expressed a real 
> interest in specifics as to what alternative methods might be used to 
> show savings.  We had begun compiling a list of case studies and will 
> continue to do so.
> 
> In the meantime, much has happened on the legislative front as well. 
> Last week, the Legislative Council approved several bills related to 
> school district reorganization for consideration in the upcoming Second 
> Regular session.  We'll keep an eye on all of them, but we are 
> particularly interested in two that align well with some of our goals. 
> 1.) Representative Lisa Miller of Somerville has sponsored a bill 
> creating an opt out provision, and 2.) Representative Peggy Rotundo of 
> Lewiston has sponsored a bill preventing collection of penalties until 
> the state achieves its 55% funding requirement.  Both representatives 
> are Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee and strong 
> advocates for these issues.
> 
> There also remains the concept draft carried over from last session 
> sponsored by Representative Edward Finch of Fairfield, a Democratic 
> member of the Education Committee.  We are attempting to get copies of 
> the language of the Miller and Rotundo bills for our review, but it is 
> clear that we will have sufficient vehicles for our work legislatively.
> 
> We have also been monitoring the issues related to special education, 
> charter schools and the GPA reduction in the supplemental budget to 
> determine their impact on our initiative.  It is clear that there will 
> be a compelling argument for removing the penalties, and also for the 
> creative paths to savings that we intend to offer given the substantial 
> pressures that all schools in Maine will be under.
> 
> We will be making contact with the commissioner early next week to 
> follow up on our meeting and will prepare initial drafts of the 
> legislative language to propose to the Education Committee when it 
> begins consideration of these bills.  Once we have initial drafts, we 
> will send them around for consideration and comments.  In the meantime, 
> please send any specific ideas relative to demonstrable savings 
> initiatives that you might provide.
> 
> Expect an additional update related to the commissioner's response and 
> some draft language for your review early next week.  In addition to the 
> letter to the commissioner,  I attach an engagement agreement for those 
> who may need it.
> 
> Happy Holidays,
> 
> Dustin
> --------------------------------------
> Dustin D Brooks
> Government Relations Liaison
> 
> PretiFlaherty
> 45 Memorial Circle
> PO Box 1058
> Augusta, ME 04332-1058
> 207.623.5300
> dbrooks at preti.com
 		 	   		  
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