School consolidation topic of Web site

AUGUSTA – Because of high public interest in the various school administration consolidation proposals, the Legislature will host a Web page dedicated to the topic.

The site will include Web links to the governor’s proposal and several legislative proposals to consolidate school administration services and will allow people to listen to the public hearings on the measures as they happen on Monday.

There are three legislative proposals that are distinct from the governor’s initiative, though more may be posted as they become available.

A joint public hearing with the Appropriations and Financial Services Committee and the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee on the proposals will be held Feb. 5 at the Augusta Civic Center. Due to the expected volume, the committees will be divided into two rooms and the public is invited to testify in either room. Audio links are on the Legislature’s dedicated Web page and will be live when the committees are meeting.

“We are taking a number of steps to increase public input as the Legislature considers these important proposals,” said Speaker of the House Glenn Cummings. “I expect that the hearing on Monday will have high turnout and traffic on the Web site should be heavy in the coming days and weeks.”

The Legislature’s school administration consolidation Web page is found at: http://janus.state.me.us/legis/schregfeb05/homepage.htm.