CONSOLIDATION Senate to vote today on bill

Kennebec Journal, April 7, 2008

(excerpt) Senators today are expected to vote on L.D. 1932, a bill that would allow local districts to forge their own cost-sharing agreements and apply other financial fixes to the original consolidation bill legislators passed last year.

The bill passed the House a second time last week, but includes a provision allowing an alternative school district structure that would lead Gov. John Baldacci to veto the legislation.

The cost-sharing provision has drawn no legislative opposition.

As districts around the state have waited for L.D. 1932 to pass, consolidation planning has largely come to a standstill, Department of Education spokesman David Connerty-Marin said.

Just nine of approximately 70 districts planning to consolidate met a March 28 state deadline to submit updated consolidation plans. The majority of districts -- 48 -- sent letters to the Department of Education explaining why they have been unable to move forward, Connerty-Marin said.