Consolidation may be delayed a year

Portland Press Herald, March 6, 2007

(excerpt) Maine school districts may not be forced to consolidate until July 2009 but likely would still have to collaborate to find $36.5 million in savings in 2008-2009, under the latest legislative response to the governor's school consolidation plan.

Gov. John Baldacci's initial plan to collapse 290 school districts into just 26 anticipated the new districts would be operational by July 2008, and banked on savings in the budget year that begins that month.

But in a series of straw votes Monday, the Legislature's Education Committee favored moving the consolidation deadline back -- until July 2009.

However, school districts would be expected to begin collaborating as soon as possible.

Under the draft plan, state funding to schools would be cut by $36.5 million in 2008-2009, with school systems directed to collaborate to make up the cut.

The proposed cut in state funding to each school system would be 10 percent for non-instructional expenses and 5 percent for special education.

The proposal fills the $36.5 million budget hole created when legislators proposed to stray from Baldacci's plan. Baldacci has said he is open to other ways of reducing school administration costs, but that any other proposal must reach his savings figure.