The MEA Saga Continues

“Stop Excise Tax Cap”

“Stop TABOR”

Two bright red stop signs advise this to readers of October’s monthly MEA publication, the Maine Educator.  Questions 2 and 4 on this November’s ballot feature prominently in the publication.  Of its eight pages, I’m not counting the ads, four of those are devoted to the referendum questions.  Two and one half are devoted entirely to the excise tax cap and TABOR II.  Question 1, the same sex marriage repeal, receives half a page.  Question 3 receives roughly one quarter of a page concerning the November referendums, I’m being generous here.  The rest of that piece is devoted to Questions 2 and 4.  There is a lot to discuss here, so let’s jump right in.

Gubernatorial Candidates’ Statements on Question 3

I have been rather vocal about my opinion on Question 3.  I thought it was time to give some others a chance.  I have presented some candidate views on Question 3 in one handy place.  An analysis of these views will be coming this weekend.  Read their views after the cut. (Hat tip to Dirigo Blue for the Dem opinions)

Question 3 on 6pm News Tonight

I’ve just been informed that WCSH 6 and WLBZ 2 will be airing a 6 minute pro and con segment on Question 3 tonight at 6pm.  There’s still time to bring the truth and dispell the fears on repealing consolidation.  Following the cut is an Op/Ed by Michael Kosowsky, Chair, Five Town CSD School Board.  Please spread the truth on repealing consolidation and don’t forget to vote this Tuesday.

Maine PTA Backs Yes on 3

Yes on 3 has received an important endorsement.  The Maine Parent Teacher Association supports a Yes vote on Question 3 to repeal the current school consolidation law.  The MPTA cites reorganized districts unhappy need the right to leave their unions.  Ed Commissioner Gendron has stated that legislation would be quickly enacted to allow successful RSUs to remain together.  Give RSUs without the power of the larger exempt districts the equal right to choose RSUs with REAL savings under rules that work for everyone.  Vote Yes on 3.  Read the MPTA’s statement after the cut.

MEA’s Revealing Opinon on Consolidation

The latest Education Intelligence Agency Communique picked up on the piece I wrote criticizing the Maine Education Association leadership for ignoring school consolidation.  The EIA noted that the MEA has failed to “articulate a position on school district consolidation”.  Another MEA, the Michigan Education Association, does not seem to be so tight lipped on the issue.  The Michigan EA came to a logical conclusion that would help their members and school systems alike.  Their solution? Don’t consolidate unless the savings is really there and don’t arbitrarily shove districts together.  Sound familiar?  But the MEA (When I use this term further it will now reference the Maine EA unless otherwise noted) had not been completely silent on consolidation.  Thanks to some searching by Brian Hubbell from MDIschools.net, an email stating the MEA’s position on school consolidation has surfaced.

Sen. David Trahan Supports Yes on 3

Repeal consolidation and treat all Mainers fairly

Sen. David Trahan (R-Waldoboro)

Question 3 on the November ballot asks Maine voters to reject the recently enacted law to consolidate Maine schools. This law was over-sold and corrupted by political horse trading, and in time will destroy what remains of Maine’s rural education system.

I ask you to vote Yes on Question 3 to repeal this failed mandate because it isn’t fair and hasn’t worked.

Researchers at the University of Maine have studied the last consolidation effort in this state, the Sinclair Act, and its effect on administration in the 1950s and ‘60s. They found that from 1950 to 1980 administrative costs escalated 406 percent.

From 1960 to 2003, 45 major studies of 792 school consolidations nationwide reported savings for just four systems.

So why consolidate? Power. Consolidation centralizes control in Augusta. Fewer school boards, superintendents and local education advocates mean more state control of education policy and funding.

Setting The Record Straight On Question 3

From Yes on 3

Why Maine should vote YES to Repeal the School Consolidation Law

Repealing the law will not cost Maine any money. There was a $36 million reduction in the state budget for education. That money was cut from schools last year and it’s not coming back to the classroom or going anywhere else.

55% of Maine students are in 66 school districts that are unaffected by this law. They are exempt from consolidating because of size, geography, or other special exemptions granted by the DoE.

Nine Towns Can Vote Early

Your vote is your voice.  You can make that voice heard earlier than the rest of the crowd in 9 Maine towns this week.  Early voting, which is separate from Maine’s absentee voting program, has been launched to make voting easier and attempt to increase voter turnout.  Absentee votes create extra clerical work for town officials.  Early voting functions in exactly the same way as when you vote on voting day.  Head to the polls, fill in your bubbles or check boxes, and drop your vote in the ballot box.  Ballots are locked in a safe at the end of each day.

So if you live in Augusta, Bangor, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Hallowell, Saco, Scarborough or Standish beat the crowds and vote early.  Then on voting day you can kick back and relax.  Check your town website for more information.

MEA Remains Silent On Consolidation

The purpose of a union is to protect the interests of its members.  The Maine Education Association is a state affiliate of the largest labor union in the United States, the National Education Association.  The NEA states that its mission is “to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.”  We must ask ourselves why the MEA leaders choose to ignore this principle.  The MEA has not been an advocate for Maine educators when it comes to school district consolidation.

This morning, the Kennebec Journal reported on the MEA’s fight against TABOR II and the excise tax cut.  The MEA  referred to TABOR as an “immediate and real threat” to our public schools.  In an email to supporters, the MEA asked its members to “bring to bear the full power, and every resource within our 25,000-member association.” against TABOR.  (Does that quote remind anyone else of Star Wars?)  With only a week left until Maine votes, the MEA has kept its promise.  MEA executive director Mark Gray produced an ad likening TABOR to a horror movie.  The MEA also has a pdf on their website comparing the Maine Heritage Policy Center to pests.  There is no mention of other statewide issues except Social Security offsets and a few monthly reports.

The MEA is running two PACs  to combat TABOR as well.  Citizens Who Support Maine’s Public Schools and Citizens Unified for Maine’s Future both oppose TABOR and the excise tax cut.  The MEA contributed $117,778.49 to the CWSMPS and $37,338.04 to CUMF.  The MEA itself has donated $155116.53 to oppose Questions 2 and 4.  How much as the MEA donate to the school consolidation vote (Question 3)?  Nothing.  Not one cent.

School Consolidation is not the only education issue the MEA has been silent on.  When the issue of cutting school days to save money came up the MEA made no public comment.  Nor have they said anything publicly about the Governor’s plan to cut $38 million from GPA.  Any comments on school consolidation have been lost to the ether; the MEA website does not maintain an archive.  Clearly the MEA higher ups have other priorities.  This election season it is TABOR and excise taxes.  MEA president Chris Galgay also found plenty of time to stump against charter schools.

We can debate whether or not TABOR and excise tax cuts will impact state education budgets, and we should.  School consolidation is here and now too.  It directly impacts Maine’s educators and students.  Why make clear public denouncements of TABOR II and the excise tax cut and ignore the school consolidation repeal?  Maybe it is time to reconsider if the MEA leadership is the best representation of those it is suppose protect?  As it stands now, it seems the MEA leaders would rather advocate their own interests.

How You Can Help Yes On 3

A post at the Augusta Insider shows that No on 3 has been getting help from corporate interests.  Yes on 3 is largely a grassroots movement.  This is why they need your help.  With a week left until Maine votes, it is important Yes on 3 drums up as much support as possible.  Corporate interests, in an effort to kiss up to Governor Baldacci, have thrown in their weight against the interests of Maine communities.  It is time to stand up for the little guy, the communities who didn’t have the influence to talk their way into exemptions, and help repeal the current school consolidation law.  There are some simple things you can do to help in this final week.