A model for school consolidation

Kennebec Journal, March 16, 2008

(excerpt) Three local school districts' efforts to get the word out to voters about consolidation are winning plaudits from the state Department of Education.

The Maranacook Area Schools have traditionally relied on their "Chalkboard" newsletter to get news to residents about the district's six schools. The Winthrop school system has used "Ramblings."

As the two school systems look to merge into one regional unit, along with Fayette, their collaboration has led to the "Ramblin' Chalkboard" newsletter.

Education Commissioner Susan Gendron this week encouraged school officials around the state to use the "Ramblin' Chalkboard" as a model for similar publications in their communities.

"I think you will be impressed, as we were," Gendron wrote in an e-mail, "not only by the excellent and impartial explanation of the reorganization effort and legislative activity that might affect them, but also by the focus on the educational strengths of each of their schools and school systems. The newsletter helps to introduce people of all the communities to the educational philosophies, interesting programs, and the human and other resources that are in the school systems."