Baldacci school plan has competition
Portland Press Herald, January 14, 2007

(excerpt) Gov. John Baldacci's plan to slash the state's school districts and administrators is not the only school-consolidation proposal percolating in the Legislature.

Lawmakers this session will consider at least five bills aimed at merging school districts or some of their functions. They range from Baldacci's ambitious approach, which would shift control of education spending from the local to the regional level; to less radical plans that would encourage school districts to start buying in bulk and sharing back-office functions.

The plans are sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, who estimate they will save taxpayers tens of millions of dollars a year. All are aimed at reducing the amount of money spent on school administration statewide, and most would put the savings back into classrooms.

All, however, are likely to test Mainers' willingness to give up local control over their school districts.

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The proposals include the governor's measure; a plan promoted by a coalition including the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Education Association, Maine Municipal Association, Maine Hospital Association and Maine Service Centers Coalition; a plan by state Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland; a proposal based on a Maine Children's Alliance report; and a bill based on a Board of Education report. Many of the plans incorporate ideas from the Brookings Institution report on the state's long-term economic prospects, commissioned by GrowSmart Maine and released last year.
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The coalition's measure, sponsored by state Sen. President Beth Edmonds, D-Freeport, attempts to hold the Legislature to a spending limit and set long-term goals for reducing the costs of government by regionalizing school districts.

The coalition proposes creating "planning alliances" for 26 school districts, based on the existing vocational school districts. The alliances would look for savings and efficiencies between school districts, such as combining financial management systems. The plan does not change the governance structure of the existing 296 school districts. Proponents estimate the measure would save $20 million to $25 million a year.

The Maine Children's Alliance plan, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, is almost identical to the coalition's plan for regional school districts. It would create funding for 26 "cooperatives," which would save money through group purchasing of books and sharing administrative functions. Participation would not be mandatory. Cost savings have not been determined.

Turner's plan looks a lot like Baldacci's and the Republican senator said he is not averse to the governor's proposal. It would create 75 school districts of about 2,200 students each, the average size of the state's highest-performing school districts. Districts would be based on proximity, common attitudes toward education and transportation needs.

Existing school boards would become advisory, and would be replaced by regional school boards. Like the governor's plan, it would be mandatory. Turner estimates it would save about $25 million dollars in administrative costs a year, which would be used for property tax relief.

The State Education Board's plan, sponsored by Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, who chairs the Appropriations Committee, would establish 65 school districts of about 3,000 to 4,000 students. Existing districts larger than that would remain intact. The districts would be mandatory, governed by a district-wide school board. They would be drawn up by a bipartisan panel. The Legislature would be asked to adopt or reject the new districts as a single package, to prevent political pressures from toppling the plan. Savings are estimated at $82 million over five years.

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