12 months ago
AUGUSTA (NEWS CENTER) -- On Tuesday, 17 communities across the state will be voting on whether to consolidate their school administrations with those of other districts. The votes are the result of this year's new school district consolidation law, which attempts to combine smaller districts into larger ones. The hope is that the state can save money without harming student acheivement. Districts have been partnering up to work out consolidation plans all summer long, and Education Commissioner Susan Gendron said she hopes voters will see this as an opportunity to reduce their taxes. Gendron said, "Maine always is in the top 10 cost per student in the country. We can't sustain that. Our economic times are telling us that right now." Communities that choose not to consolidate will be penalized with less state aid next year. Critics fear that consolidation will lead to a loss of local control and eventually the closure of some small schools. Gendron said the goal is only to reduce the cost of administration.
NEWS CENTER
