Changes likely for Baldacci school plan

Bangor Daily News, February 19, 2007

(excerpt) Gov. John Baldacci’s plan to reduce school administrative districts from 296 to 26 does not have the political support to pass as is, but there is strong and bipartisan support to reduce the costs of school administration.

Both Baldacci and Education Commissioner Susan Gendron have said they do not expect the final legislation will be what they proposed.

But Baldacci said in an interview that he expects lawmakers will want to make adjustments based on what he has heard at meetings across the state and that he is willing to compromise.

Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, who also serves on the Legislature’s Education Committee, said, "People are concerned and they want to do something. Will it pass as proposed? No, and that is not unusual. The Legislature likes to put its stamp on things."

She said lawmakers and the public agree that Maine is spending too much for education administration and that more money needs to go to classroom instruction.

She said 152 superintendents are too many, but maybe 26 are too few.