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. (more…)
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