Lawmakers say teachers' jobs secure

Portland Press Herald, April 7, 2007

(excerpt) Legislators who are trying to cut the cost of education in Maine said on Friday that teachers should not fear losing their jobs to school consolidation.

Members of the subcommittee that is looking for ways to cut school administration costs made that promise while finalizing details of their plan. They are scheduled to outline their recommendations to the Legislature's Appropriations Committee on Monday.

In a discussion with representatives of the Maine Education Association, a teachers' union, subcommittee members said teachers and most other school employees who don't work in administration can expect to keep their jobs, salaries, benefits and union representation after their school systems become parts of consolidated school districts.

"Teachers' contracts would go with them to the new district," said subcommittee member Sen. Karl Turner, R-Cumberland. "We want this to cause as little discomfort as possible for school employees, once you get below the administration level."