Group advances bid to repeal schools law Regionalization opponents plan petition

BANGOR – The group opposed to the state’s school consolidation law made progress Saturday concerning its next steps toward trying to repeal the legislation.

Lawrence “Skip” Greenlaw Jr., who started the movement, headed up an organizational meeting Saturday at the Ramada Inn that was attended by about 25 people who said they were there to represent many others.

“I don’t understand why and how the Legislature passed this,” said Greenlaw, of Stonington. He noted the apparent disconnect between what Maine people want and what was passed.

Greenlaw, a member of the Deer Isle-Stonington CSD school committee and a former state legislator, jump-started the repeal effort last month when he sent letters first to school committee chairmen around the state, then to municipal officials, seeking their support and advice.

“There are a lot more people than are here today that are interested in doing this,” Greenlaw said. “This is so egregious that I think we just have to do something to stop this.”

Three legislators in attendance explained how the law made it through, noting that it was part of the budget and the complete ramifications likely weren’t understood.

“I voted against it once, and I’m looking forward to being able to vote against it again,” said Rep. Henry Joy, R-Crystal.

Rep. Jeffery Gifford, R-Lincoln, who voted against the bill, and Rep. Robert Eaton, D-Sullivan, who voted in favor of it, also attended.

“If this had been a standalone bill it would have died the day it got there,” Eaton said. “I apologize for voting for the budget. I’m here now to try and make amends.”

The diversity of those who attended the meeting was recognized several times, and it was important to many that the word “coalition” be used when deciding on a name for the group – Maine Coalition to Save Schools.

The next step is to gather enough signatures on petitions to convince legislators to repeal the law and start over.

Most opposed to the legislation agree that some form of consolidation needs to take place, but being forced to give up local control of education spending and school choice in communities where students have been able to choose where they attend high school is a major hurdle.

“I’ve never worked on anything that in the end you feel is going to be a total disaster,” Lauren Romaine of the Glenburn School Board and the town’s consolidation committee said. “We’re looking to lose good education programs. No matter how you try to slice it, there’s nothing good that’s happening.”

The committee delayed its previous plans for a press conference to kick off the petition campaign until Sept. 29 in Bangor.

The campaign needs 55,087 signatures to send the petition to legislators, but Greenlaw said he hopes to get 100,000 signatures in order to demonstrate to legislators and the governor how widespread opposition to the law is.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said.

If legislators fail to act to repeal the law, the petition article would be sent to voters for a statewide referendum.

Anyone with questions or interest in joining or donating funds or supplies to Greenlaw’s repeal effort can contact Greenlaw at 367-2738 or 460-1260, or by e-mail at skipg@hypernet.com.