Struggle for control

Morning Sentinel, February 6, 2007

(excerpt) China School Committee member Judy Stone said she supports regional consolidation, yet opposes the governor's approach.

"On a larger scale, the governor's plan reduces school districts to an absurdly low number, with the end result that the 26 superintendents and boards could not possibly adequately supervise all of Maine's schools," Stone said. "And bloated middle-level bureaucracies will almost certainly be the result."

Hampden Academy junior Harvey Shue raised questions about the wisdom of making such a dramatic cut in the number of school districts.

He asked whether students would be represented on the new regional school boards, and whether those boards would have time to hear from students.