House approves school fix-it bill Maine Senate gives initial OK to revision of consolidation law

AUGUSTA – Meeting late into the night Thursday, lawmakers gave all but final approval to a measure aimed at fixing problems with the school consolidation law, but only after defeating another attempt to repeal the law.

“People are waiting for our guidance,” said Rep. Elaine Makas D-Lewiston. “They want to know the next step. They want to get on with their efforts.”

Three attempts to amend this third school consolidation bill before lawmakers failed this week, as did an attempt to kill the measure outright.

After lengthy debate that started in the afternoon, the House at about 11 p.m. gave final approval to the new bill 92-41.

“This is all of the original elements of LD 1932, plus everything that the education committee worked to make it better,” said Rep. Meredith Strang Burgess, a Cumberland Republican and member of the education panel. “This is the beginning of getting this education train back on the track.”

The Senate also gave the measure all but final approval with little debate late Thursday after defeating an amendment 19-16 that would have permitted school unions under the law. Convinced that allowing school unions would create many more school entities and severely weaken the consolidation law, Gov. John Baldacci had vetoed an earlier consolidation measure that included such a provision.

“We really need to go home having fixed this process,” Sen. Elizabeth Mitchell, D-Vassalboro, said Thursday evening.

The Senate will need to take final action on the bill Friday when legislative leaders also hope to reach adjournment.

As discussions continued Thursday, lawmakers began racking up daily premium pay of $100 after extending this year’s legislative sessions beyond the original April 16 adjournment deadline.

The new school consolidation bill awaiting final enactment makes several adjustments to the current law, including clarification of the authorization allowing the regional planning committees to negotiate cost-sharing agreements as well as other reorganization procedures.

It allows for larger school committees and clarifies the way tuition is computed when there is no elementary or secondary school in a school administrative unit.

The bill also permits the Maine commissioner of education to authorize “doughnut hole” school units that have 1,200 or fewer students and no other available reorganization partners to form a regional school unit that serves at least 1,000 students.

The measure also authorizes the commissioner to approve plans for alternative organizational structures under the school reorganization law.