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MSMA: Testimony needed at Special Education hearing MondayMaine School Management Association Bulletin Dec. 18, 2009 Testimony needed at Special Education hearing Monday School board members and superintendents, who support a proposal to bring Maine’s special education regulations in line with federal rules, need to make their voices heard at a hearing scheduled for this Monday, Dec. 21, in Augusta. Both the Maine School Boards Association and Maine School Superintendents Association have supported the goal of this rule-making in the past, which is Maine’s special needs laws should not exceed federal rules. Such a rule change would help assure that special education services are delivered consistently across the state and in a cost-effective manner. Special education costs under current state rules are growing faster than any other part of the education budget and that is unsustainable. Monday’s public hearing, which starts at 10 a.m., is being run by the Department of Education. For those who wish to come and testify in person, the public hearing is being held in Room 103 A and B in the Cross Office Building next to the Statehouse. For those emailing in testimony, it can be sent to Jaci Homes at: Jaci.holmes@maine.gov It is also important you let legislators know how you feel. While this hearing is being run by department staff, legislators will be weighing in on rule changes, particularly as the many advocates involved in special education make their feelings known. You can email members of the Education Committee at the addresses listed below. Sen. Justin Alfond at justin@justinalfond.com Sen. Elizabeth Schneider at SchneiderSenate@gmail.com Sen. Carol Weston at cweston@fairpoint.net Rep. Pat Sutherland at psutherland@sutherlandweston. Rep. Ed Finch at edfinch@roadrunner.com Rep. Alan Casavant at acasavant@maine.rr.com Rep. Steve Lovejoy at steve.lovejoy@myfairpoint.net Rep. Howard McFadden at mcfaddenh@roadrunner.com Rep. Mary Nelson at mpn3@maine.rr.com Rep. Helen Rankin at rankin8076@roadrunner.com Rep. David Richardson at richardsond@hermon.net Rep. Dick Wagner at rwagner@bates.edu You also should be contacting your local legislators to explain the importance of this rule-making.
Contact: Dale Douglass, executive director douglass@msmaweb.com Victoria Wallack, communications director vwallack@msmaweb.com Telephone: 207-622-3473 or 1-800-660-8484 |
