Monday:
Briefing
9:00 a.m. –
Gov. Change Package to LD 353 - FY 10 and FY 11 Biennial Budget - GPA for Local Schools
Work Sessions
9:30 a.m. –
L.D. 1097: An Act To Improve Alternative Organizational Structures by Requiring the Department of Education To Provide Them with Estimated Allocations
L.D. 1129: An Act To Permit Efficient School Districts To Opt Out of Consolidation
L.D. 1203: An Act To Allow Certain School Units To Reorganize without Meeting Minimum Student Population Requirements without Being Penalized
L.D. 1336: An Act To Preserve School Choice Rights
L.D. 285: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Consolidation of School Administrative Units To Delay All Penalties for 2 Years
L.D. 467: An Act To Exempt School Administrative District 12, School Union 37 and School Union 60 from the Laws Requiring School Administration Consolidation
L.D. 570: An Act To Improve the Laws Governing the Consolidation of School Administrative Units
L.D. 635: An Act To Provide Additional Time to Certain School Administrative Units To Comply with School Administrative Unit Reorganization Laws
L.D. 977: An Act To Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws
Public Hearings
1:00 p.m. –
L.D. 1101: Resolve, To Understand and Assist in Efforts To Promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education
L.D. 1141: An Act To Add a Member from Castine to the Board of Trustees of the Maine Maritime Academy
L.D. 1362: An Act To Create a Unified Board of Higher Education
L.D. 1457: An Act To Limit Membership by School Administrative Units in Certain Interscholastic Organizations
Work Sessions
3:00 p.m. –
MEPRI Road Map for EPS Study – Report on Labor Market Area Adjustment – Approval of FY 10 MEPRI Work Plan
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Ed Committee Votes before 10:30 a.m.
L.D. 1097: An Act To Improve Alternative Organizational Structures by Requiring the Department of Education To Provide Them with Estimated Allocations
Keep content/carry-over intent, but ONTP: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 1129: An Act To Permit Efficient School Districts To Opt Out of Consolidation
ONTP: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 1203: An Act To Allow Certain School Units To Reorganize without Meeting Minimum Student Population Requirements without Being Penalized
Keep content/carry-over intent, but ONTP: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 1336: An Act To Preserve School Choice Rights
Keep content/carry-over intent, but ONTP: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 285: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Consolidation of School Administrative Units To Delay All Penalties for 2 Years
Keep content/carry-over intent, but ONTP.
Discussion:
Weston: Already agreed that we are not distributing penalties, but in some places the school systems knew they would not be saving money. So they should not be penalized for making a prudent choice.
Johnson: Might pass as an Emergency measure.
Schneider: Not sure what will happen upstairs.
Weston: This one is important, particularly given what we heard from Commissioner. Don’t strip off Emergency provisions and see what happens.
Sutherland: Some local decisions were made the way they were because of penalty provisions. Others were expecting $$ from penalties. Having second thoughts on moving forward with this.
Schneider: If strip off emergency provisions and Governor signs, would show up as competing measure on the ballot.
Alfond: Is two years better, or should it only be one year? Sidesteps the issue, but might want to consider.
Johnson: 1 or 2 years is irrelevant
Schneider: Need to get rid of penalties altogether; need incentives.
McFadden: Only 3 towns in my district are not being penalized, so could not vote for ONTP.
Weston: Also can’t support; minority report: one year delay. Only ones hurt will be those who are actually penalized. The others may have voted the way they did because of the penalties, but that’s done.
Sutherland: All communities have problems have this. Penalized in lots of ways.
Johnson: Very clear that in this fiscal environment, do not need to add problems by imposing these penalties.
Schneider: Worried about having competing measure out of this if can’t get 2/3 as an emergency.
Johnson: Not within control, but do have some influence to keep emergency.
Schneider: Only sure thing is a unanimous ONTP with a press release to say why it had to be voted out that way.
Alfond asks McCarthy: Joint resolution would be needed to make it a competing measure without sending it to Governor.
Schneider: Thought it happened automatically.
McCarthy: Legislature would just not send it to the administration.
Schneider: What if it goes all the way through to the Governor Would it end up on ballot?
McCarthy: Only way it gets on the ballot as a competing measure is if Legislature votes to send it that way.
Schneider: Could support this bill if that’s true.
Lovejoy: Portland did not have to consolidate; did not expect to get $$ from penalties. But will vote ONTP because those towns who voted against reorganization made a choice. Need to let citizens’ petition play out.
Finch: There will be a floor vote on this and this debate won’t prevent that.
Keep content/carry-over intent, but ONTP. In favor: 6; Oppose: 5; Minority report: OTP as amended.
Continuation:
L.D. 467: An To Exempt School Administrative District 12, School Union 37 and School Union 60 from the Laws Requiring School Administration Consolidation (Emergency)
OTP: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 570: An Act To Improve the Laws Governing the Consolidation of School Administrative Units
Carry-over: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 635: An Act To Provide Additional Time to Certain School Administrative Units To Comply with School Administrative Unit Reorganization Laws (Emergency)
OTP: Unanimous (11)
L.D. 977: An Act To Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws (Initiated)
ONTP: In favor: 7; Oppose: 5