Stonington man seeks repeal of school law

STONINGTON – A former state legislator and current local school committee member has taken steps to initiate a citizens referendum to repeal the state’s school consolidation law.

In letters to be mailed today, Lawrence “Skip” Greenlaw of Stonington is asking the chairmen and chairwomen of school committees throughout the state, along with others, to join in an effort to repeal the law.

Greenlaw, who served in the Maine House from 1973 through 1978, said he has been involved with the consolidation issue during legislative debate of the bill. He serves as co-chair of the Deer Isle-Stonington CSD 13 School Committee and has been involved in the local discussions of consolidation.

“I got to the point where I just couldn’t sit still,” he said Tuesday.

In his letter, he explained his reasons for starting the initiative.

“My primary concern is that the educational excellence which has been achieved for our children will be at risk if school consolidation is allowed to proceed, and we will lose local control of our schools which is a very important part of our Maine culture,” Greenlaw wrote.

On Tuesday, Greenlaw said he is concerned that legislators have not listened to Maine people during the legislative debate and that they are not listening to the people now.

“I’ve only met one person who thinks this should go forward, only one who doesn’t think this should be repealed,” he said. “The gulf between public opinion and the Legislature’s opinion is a mile wide.”

Greenlaw noted that the Legislature already had achieved a major portion of the $36.5 million in targeted savings by reducing the central administrative allowance under the Essential Programs and Services rules by $170 per pupil, a savings estimated at $34 million.

“There was no need to pass this mammoth legislation,” he said.

In his letter, Greenlaw said he is convinced Maine people will reject school consolidation town by town because it will cost more than it saves.

“Consolidation may result in cost savings at the central administration level,” he wrote, “but there will be a huge bill when salaries for faculty and staff are negotiated if ‘regional school units’ are forced.”

In his letter, he asks responders to fill out a questionnaire stating their willingness to work actively on the petition drive, including circulating petitions and helping financially.

Greenlaw expects a quick response to his letters and if the response is positive, he said, he will organize a committee to quickly set up the petition drive. He already has a commitment from an experienced school law attorney who is willing to draft the petition.

“I want to get the petition drafted quickly,” he said. “I’d like to get over 100,000 signatures so that the governor and Legislature will see that the people of Maine are really unhappy about this.”