Gendron talks school consolidation with business community in Bangor

BANGOR – All of the state’s school districts have submitted their tentative consolidation plans but state officials and communities have a lengthy to-do list to complete before final plans can take effect, the head of the state Department of Education said Tuesday.

Commissioner Susan Gendron addressed representatives from local businesses, cities and schools at a breakfast at the Spectacular Event Center. Organized by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Oxford Networks, the event was held to provide an update on the state’s reorganization of school administrative districts into regional school units, or RSUs.

“I believe it’s my responsibility on behalf of the citizens of Maine to ensure that folks have really looked at all the possibilities,” Gendron said to the 70-person crowd.

Gendron outlined a list of complex steps voters and school administrative districts must take before the final reorganization is in place. All of Maine’s 290 school districts met the Aug. 31 deadline to file notice of intent to develop a consolidation plan. All districts must submit their reorganization plan or alternative plan to the commissioner by Dec. 1, Gendron said.

Each district must hold municipal referendums for approved plans by Jan. 15, 2008, and July 1, 2008, is the suggested start date of new RSUs, she said.

In addition, voters in each community must elect an RSU board, that board must hire a superintendent and voters must approve annually the RSU budget.

Businesses can get involved in the Reorganization Planning Committees, Gendron said. Those committees have been formed already in many communities.

Chamber of Commerce President Candy Guerette said that businesses could be affected by the consolidation effort if property taxes are reduced.

Audience member and Brewer City Councilor Michael Celli asked Gendron what would happen to teacher salaries when towns with different pay scales merge. The higher-paid teachers will not want to receive a pay cut, and the lower-paid teachers may demand a pay increase, Celli said.

In response, Gendron said schools can make sure that state funding for teacher salaries goes entirely toward salaries and school units will have to be creative in finding ways to move money around in the budget.

Department of Education spokesman David Connerty-Marin said from his office Tuesday that all existing teacher contracts must be honored after consolidation. The new RSU has three years after consolidation to negotiate contracts with the new union bargaining unit. If a school employee’s existing contract expires before three years are up, that contract can be extended until the new contract is created.

Overall, the reorganization has a goal of reducing transportation, building and maintenance and special education costs by 5 percent without lowering the quality of service, Gendron said.

“It’s not just about cost savings. It’s about equal educational opportunities and using our resources more efficiently,” she said.