Thursday, March 15, 2007

Maine's Governor Baldacci Wants to reduce Districts; Superintendents

There’s not a lot of job security in being a school superintendent in Maine. The Legislature’s ongoing debate over downsizing the state’s 290 school boards is expected to significantly reduce the number of school superintendents statewide.

Under Governor John Baldacci’s “Local Schools, Regional Support” proposal, the number of school administrative units and central offices would drop from 152 to 26 statewide, with regional oversight replacing grassroots control of public schools by July of 2008.

Education Commissioner Susan Gendron claims Baldacci’s approach would save $241 million in the first three years of implementation, including $109 million in local savings and $132 million in state savings.

Read the story in the Ellsworth American.

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