[Local-Maine-Schools] Fw: ME PTA and referendum questions

[skip greenlaw]

This e-mail is an endorsement from the Maine Parent-Teachers Association supporting repeal of the school consolidation law.  YEAH!!!!!!!!!

Skip
----- Original Message ----- 
From: skip greenlaw 
To: Liz & Jeff Hoyt 
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:41 PM
Subject: Re: ME PTA and referendum questions


Good afternoon liz,

Thank you for forwarding this endorsement.  Is there going to be any publicity around this endorsement?
I am going to forward it to our group.

Thanks,
Skip
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Liz & Jeff Hoyt 
  To: skip greenlaw 
  Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:07 PM
  Subject: Fwd: ME PTA and referendum questions


  another endorsement




  ü Please consider the environment before printing this email.


  ----- Forwarded Message -----
  From: "Ginny Mott" <vmott at almanacmtn.us>
  To: vmott at almanacmtn.us
  Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:36:48 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
  Subject: ME PTA and referendum questions


  The state board of Maine PTA has taken the following positions on three of the referendum questions.  We will be happy to discuss ME PTA's positions on these three issues. We urge all PTA members to become informed and vote. Informed voters are essential to a successful democracy!

  As always, please feel free to be in touch.

  Ginny

  Virginia Mott
  Legislative Chair, Maine Parent Teacher Association
  42 Damon Pasture Lane
  Lakeville, ME 04487
  207-738-2180
  vmott at almanacmtn.us

        Question 1: People's Veto  
        An Act To End Discrimination in Civil Marriage and Affirm Religious Freedom 
        "Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?" 
  ME PTA takes no position on Question 1. Although the ads being run are trying to portray this as an education issue, it's not. Maine's Learning Results does not include instruction on marriage and all schools are supposed to teach respect for everyone regardless of differences, real or perceived. 


        Question 3: Citizen Initiative 
        An Act to Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws
        “Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school district consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?”
        ME PTA supports the repeal of mandated consolidation. Any school administrative units which will be improved by consolidation should be free to do so. Commissioner Gendron has said that if this referendum passes repealing the consolidation law, she will act quickly with the Legislature to enact legislation allowing existing RSU's to remain consolidated if they wish and, presumably, new RSU's to form. By the same token, school administrative units for which the currently mandated consolidation won't work need the right to choose the paths most appropriate for their students and communities.  


        Question 4: Citizen Initiative 
        An Act to Provide Tax Relief
        “Do you want to change the existing formulas that limit state and local government spending and require voter approval by referendum for spending over those limits and for increases in state taxes?” 
        ME PTA takes no position on the tax initiative but urges voters to study this issue carefully. The potential impact on school budgets is significant. 



        If you are no longer an officer, please forward this to the new officers. Thank you. Please feel free to forward this to all members of your PTA. If you wish to have your email address removed from this list, please email vmott at almanacmtn.us and tbreen at zoneradio.com. We try to keep this list up-to-date, but there is sometimes a lag between the time a local unit submits its list of new officers and the time this list can be updated. It's part of being an all-volunteer organization. 
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