The Maine Coalition to Save Schools, the group attempting to repeal the state’s school consolidation law, says it has distributed 2,728 petitions in Maine’s 16 counties.

Despite the Election Day rain, volunteers were at polling places across the state Tuesday trying to gain more signatures, the group’s chairman, Skip Greenlaw, said in a statement. He added that, based on e-mails and telephone conversations he has had with coalition members and volunteers, several thousand signatures had been secured even before the polls opened.

Washington County volunteer coordinator Bucket Davis of East Machias requested an additional 50 petitions last week on top of the 200 he already had received, according to Greenlaw. In Jonesport, he reported that 10 petitions already had been completed with 65 signatures per petition.

Volunteer coordinator Alan Morse in Franklin County personally collected more than 300 signatures, and efforts in southern Maine also continue to be strong, Greenlaw said.

The coalition’s goal is to collect 100,000 signatures, even though the state requires only 55,087 to have the Legislature consider the petition.

Greenlaw said he expects to have an interim report by early next week of signatures collected since Oct. 18.

For more information, contact Greenlaw at 367-2738 or e-mail skipg@hypernet.com.