Baldacci, Gendron plan meetings with MEA on education future

Gov. John Baldacci and state Education Commissioner Susan Gendron plan four private meetings around the state next month with Maine Education Association members to talk about the future of education.

It will be the second year that MEA has held such issue sessions, and the first time that the governor will attend.

“The goal is to simply give the governor and the commissioner of education an opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with teachers and higher education employees who are basically in the trenches every day,” Mark Gray, the association’s executive director, said Friday.

Other topics expected to be discussed: recruiting and retaining teachers and funding for universities and community colleges.

Similar MEA meetings were held last year, with Gendron in attendance. Then, educators were concerned about the state’s Learning Results program, which sets standards in eight subject areas, and the local assessment systems that districts are required to set up to determine whether students have mastered the subjects.

Baldacci’s spokesman, Dan Cashman, said the meetings were not campaign events for the governor, who is seeking a second term this year.

“Teachers are the backbone of the system,” Cashman said. “He wants to be there to give them the support they need to get the job done.”

After remarks by Baldacci and Gendron, MEA members will be allowed to ask questions, express opinions and provide comment.

The four meetings are private and open only to MEA members and reservations are required.

This year’s meetings will be in:

. Auburn, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, March 27, in the Culinary Arts Building, Central Maine Community College. Contact: Sue Beaulieu, 784-4006.

. Portland, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at Keeley The Katerer, off Warren Avenue. Contact: Brenda Fox, 774-6133 ext. 102.

. Presque Isle, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, April 10, Allagash Room in the Culinary Arts Building, University of Maine at Presque Isle. Contact: Dianne Leighton, 498-3191.

. Brewer, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 12, at Jeff’s Catering, 15 Littlefield Way. Contact: Annette Sawyer at 942-2907 ext. 104.