School boards that make up Union 104 in Eastport, Perry, Pembroke, Charlotte and Dennysville will hold public forums to discuss partnering with other area school districts to consolidate administrative duties mandated by the state. School units in the state are required to comply with the state's budget process, and the new law applies to all publicly supported schools, including private secondary schools approved to receive public funds that enroll 60% or more publicly funded students.

     Union 104 met on July 17 to discuss the many questions regarding the process. A timeline for the decision-making process required by the state was reviewed. Union members are working toward a date of August 31 to file a notice of intent to engage in negotiations with other school administrative units for the purpose of developing a reorganization plan to form a regional school unit or to submit an alternate plan. By September, a reorganization planning committee needs to be formed in school units that intend to engage in planning to create a regional school unit (RSU).

     The Department of Education is directed to provide guidelines for the formation of reorganization planning committees, and the law states that the committees should include representation from all the units participating in the reorganization as well as the member municipalities and community residents. Then, by December 1, the reorganization plan is to be submitted to DOE by those units that filed a notice of intent to form a regional school unit and intend to get a consolidated school system up and running by July 1, 2008.

     By December 15, 2007, DOE must notify municipalities and school administrative units to see if plans meet requirements; January 15, 2008, is the deadline that applies to those school consolidation plans that would have the new system in place. A referendum must be held on the proposed plan in each municipality that will be part of the reorganized regional school unit. By June 10, 2008, a referendum must be held for those plans that are designed to have the consolidated school system working by July 1, 2009. By November 4, 2008, any school administrative unit that fails to approve a reorganization plan on or before this date will be subject to penalties that are set forth in the law.

     Members of School Union 104 listened as interim Superintendent Omar Norton gave an overview of choices. "Before partnering with any school [high school], you and your town need to ask, if there is no school in your town, where do you want to send your kids?" Norton suggested holding public forums in each town to "get a feel for what they want."

     "Right now, we have a law, with timelines and purposes, with what-ifs and what-is. My recommendation is to advance cautiously without making a commitment right off. Make sure it's the right one for your town."

     Eastport board member and Vice Chair Paula Bouchard agreed: "We want to ask our citizens where they want their kids to go. A lot of people don't know what this means, and we also have a lot of questions that need to be answered."

          More discussion followed with questions posed to Norton from board representatives. These questions were answered with information gathered from meetings attended by Norton and some school board members that were held in Eastport, Calais and Machias. Some informational meetings were held to discuss the laws and rules for regional consolidation.

     Rumors have surfaced about the closing of schools in Union 104, and Norton assured the board, "In order for the state to close a school, there has to be a two-thirds vote of citizens in town to close the school, and then kids would have to have a school to go to." Another board member asked if there was a possibility "to involve Ron Jenkins, superintendent of Native American schools in our area, as they may have a vested interest to keep Shead High School open." Norton said he had spoken with Jenkins and would keep the boards informed about any information regarding the regional consolidation. Norton also stressed that the important issues for boards to focus on are financial, the hiring process, transportation and central services, when trying to form plans in partnering with other school districts.

     The Department of Education says that existing school units should aim to form regional school units of at least 2,500 resident students, except where geography, demographics, population density, transportation challenges and other obstacles make 2,500 impractical, in which case school units must have at least 1,200 students.

Schedule of forums
     All reorganization plans are subject to voter approval. School boards in the following towns will hold public forums concerning the reorganization on the following dates and times: Perry Elementary School, Monday, August 6; Eastport, Shead High School, Tuesday, August 7; Pembroke Elementary School, Tuesday, August 14; Charlotte Elementary School, Tuesday, August 21; and Dennysville, Friday, August 10 at the Edmunds Consolidated School gym. The forums will all begin at 7 p.m.

     In order for the school committees to make informed choices, registered voters in each town are urged to attend.

New interim superintendent considered
     Following an executive session, the Union 104 board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Norton pertaining to the possibility of hiring Shead High School Principal Terry Lux as an interim superintendent to replace Norton when his term ends, after the uncertainty over school district reorganization is resolved. The union will take further action at a later date according to the findings of the superintendent.