School law change has House OK
Bangor Daily News, March 26, 2008
(excerpt) "We are still opposed to the amendments included in this bill," said David Farmer, spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci. "We think it is unfortunate that the noncontroversial, technical changes that the bill started out with have been encumbered with these controversial items that undermine the law as it was passed last year."
Although Baldacci has not said he will veto the bill with the school union amendment, Farmer said Tuesday that he "expects that will be the case" when the bill reaches the governor’s desk.
The vote in the House was 104-41. The Senate passed the bill last week by a vote of 26-8. Approval in both houses was by more than two-thirds and therefore enough to withstand the expected veto. The bill still faces final votes in the House and Senate before it goes to the governor for his consideration.
The school union amendment is a major change to the law that, according to Education Department officials, would result in a substantial increase in the number of school districts above those mandated in the original consolidation law.
The amendment allows for regional school unions in addition to the regional school units required in the law. While a school union still requires a central administrative office to handle functions such as accounting, transportation and core curriculum development, the union governance structure would allow local committees to make decisions regarding local operation of their schools, including adopting a school budget and hiring staff.
(excerpt) "We are still opposed to the amendments included in this bill," said David Farmer, spokesman for Gov. John Baldacci. "We think it is unfortunate that the noncontroversial, technical changes that the bill started out with have been encumbered with these controversial items that undermine the law as it was passed last year."
Although Baldacci has not said he will veto the bill with the school union amendment, Farmer said Tuesday that he "expects that will be the case" when the bill reaches the governor’s desk.
The vote in the House was 104-41. The Senate passed the bill last week by a vote of 26-8. Approval in both houses was by more than two-thirds and therefore enough to withstand the expected veto. The bill still faces final votes in the House and Senate before it goes to the governor for his consideration.
The school union amendment is a major change to the law that, according to Education Department officials, would result in a substantial increase in the number of school districts above those mandated in the original consolidation law.
The amendment allows for regional school unions in addition to the regional school units required in the law. While a school union still requires a central administrative office to handle functions such as accounting, transportation and core curriculum development, the union governance structure would allow local committees to make decisions regarding local operation of their schools, including adopting a school budget and hiring staff.
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