The Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce supports restructuring educational administration. Studies show that Maine’s per-pupil expenditure exceeds national averages. The Bangor Chamber recognizes that restructuring should allow communities to develop unique and effective local solutions. However, the business community remains concerned that local and state initiatives are not doing enough to control administrative costs so as to assure that taxpayer educational dollars are effectively used for the benefit of Maine’s children.

Money spent on administration and bureaucracies prevent meaningful resources from reaching the classrooms. Opponents of reform seek to preserve the status quo in the guise of local control. Compelling though this may seem, arguments based on local control reflect a subjective, time-bound perspective that merely gives effect to self-serving parochialism.

Parents, teachers and students adjusted to Maine school administrative districts brought about by the Sinclair act of 1957. We can adjust again to effective change in the future. Yet, maintaining the status quo continues to pave the Maine road to poverty. Savings from administrative restructuring could be dedicated to the classroom and to creating economic opportunities for the future of Maine children. Preserving the status quo sustains a high tax burden that serves to dampen economic opportunities and prevent meaningful investment in the future.

Through its membership and on behalf of the business community, the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce is calling for legislators, municipal officials, and school boards to provide bold leadership to assure the future of Maine through the efficient use of educational resources. Gov. John Baldacci and Education Commissioner Susan Gendron demonstrated such leadership in responding to the need to restructure education administration. Whether government requires school districts or suggests “planning cooperatives,” whether 26 or 65 in number, state and local governments must act with resolve.

The Education Committee recommendation falls short. By requiring consolidation of educational administrative units where there are fewer than 1,200 pupils and seeking only $36.5 million in savings beginning in fiscal year ’09, the proposal does not realize the potential savings based on economies of scale and effective administration. Even without reducing the number of teachers, the governor’s proposal suggests $146 million of savings over the next three years.

The Brookings report identifies a possible $92 million in savings by moving toward national averages. It would seem that such economies of scale are more readily achieved by requiring 3,000 to 4,000 children per educational administrative unit as suggested by the State Board of Education.

With the support of taxpayer dollars, the educational community has become a formidable lobbying group arguing to preserve a self-serving status quo. Ironically, the same group that would advocate having the state fund 55 percent of local education costs is unwilling to accept changes from the state.

State and local officials must act now and with vision to address much needed educational restructuring. Elected representatives must not be persuaded by the minority arguing in the subjective realm of local control. They must respond by providing solid guidelines with related funding consequences in order to overcome self-serving interests.

The status quo is far too costly today and to the future of Maine children. Bold and effective change must be undertaken now.

David Casavant is chairman of the regionalization committee of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.