RESULTS OF THE 2007 CWC/KEYS FORUMS ON

SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION IN MAINE

Introduction. During a recent two-week period, several dozen people came together at one of three citizen forums sponsored by the Community Wellness Coalition (CWC) of the KEYS (Kittery, Eliot, York, S. Berwick) Region. The intent of the forums was to provide listening sessions at which the subject of school district consolidation in Maine could be discussed. These “We Can Hear You Now” public meetings were held in Kittery (on October 23), South Berwick (on October 29) and York (on November 1). In total, more than 30 citizens participated.

The format for each session was the same with three separate rounds of conversation. Round One asked people to identify aspects of the merger law that might be appealing to themselves or others. Round Two asked these same people to identify aspects of the law that people might find worrisome. Round Three gave people a chance to talk about any other aspect of school district consolidation that they wanted to air. The tone of the discussions was intended to be conversational and friendly, which was easily achieved with a round-table format. People were able to talk about the various aspects of the issue as part of one complex whole with many “shades of grey” rather than just being a “yes/no” situation.

The CWC gathered written input from all participants on each of these topics and will send the report below to the Department of Education (DOE), with the details of each forum attached. In advance of making the report, the CWC is releasing its findings to the public.

Positive Aspects of School Mergers. The possibility of cost savings was the aspect of school mergers most often mentioned by forum participants, though some people felt these savings would be felt at the State level with little or no savings at the KEYS region local level. Numerous people identified the possibility of magnet schools as an intriguing possibility. What people seemed to understand by this concept is the possibility of creating schools where students with special needs or special talents could be brought together for opportunities unavailable to them at present. Some also spoke of the possibility of developing new curricular opportunities as a result of enlarged and more diverse districts. Related to the idea of new school opportunities was what many referred to as economies of scale. Economists generally define scale effects in terms of a reduction in costs resulting from an increase in the size of operations. Others spoke of the possibility of greater efficiencies as a possible positive effect of district consolidation.

These five themes were the most common: cost savings, magnet programs/schools, scale effects, potential efficiencies and curricular innovation. More than sixty ideas (including many duplications and overlaps) were culled from the forms submitted by participants.

Major Concerns about School Mergers. People expressing worries about the proposed district mergers submitted a similar number of ideas. The theme that drew the most attention at each forum was the potential loss of local control over schools and curricula. This was sometimes expressed in economic or administrative terms and sometimes as a fear about a loss of the small town character of a community’s schools. Costs were a major obstacle for many, with people expressing the fear that mergers would end up costing the towns in the KEYS Region more money rather than less. In particular, increased financial costs and other burdens of changed transport needs were identified as a concern. People also were worried about a feared loss of local talent (teachers and administrators) if a merger were forced upon a district. Finally, there was some concern among those present about the general confusion that the whole process has engendered. People expressed a resistance to change and a fear of unnecessary change especially when the consequences of it are so poorly understood and the benefits of it to the local communities so much in doubt.

In summary, loss of local character and control, increased costs for such things as transportation, possible loss of talent and a general uncertainty about the whole process were the main themes identified in this part of the discussion at the three forums.

Other Comments and Opinions. Without doubt, the main theme identified in the final round of discussions was a desire to slow down the process of school district consolidation. Many of those in attendance felt that there was a rush to judgment in the matter and that more discussion, more detailed information and more citizen buy-in would be necessary before people would be comfortable or confident in the benefits of the law as experienced in the KEYS region.

Conclusion. The information gathered from these discussions is being prepared for the Department of Education. On November 13 at 7:00 p.m. state and local leaders, including a representative of the DOE and our State Senator, will be at the Kittery Trading Post Conference Room (on the lower level) to provide a response to the issues raised in the CWC forums. They are also expected to give an update on developments since district consolidation became law. The CWC invites all interested citizens to attend this meeting.

At present, more than sixty bills are being filed with the state legislature recommending alterations in the law. Further, a number of petitions are being circulated around the state calling for repeal of the law. These and other topics will be discussed at the November 13th meeting.

In addition, staff of the State DOE will be coming to the Kittery Town Hall on November 6 at 6:30 to meet with Kittery officials regarding the implications of Kittery’s proposal to merge with SAD 35. This meeting is open to the public as well.

Details on the CWC report to the DOE as well as other information regarding school consolidation may be found at the website http://www.keysregion.org.

Report prepared by Ron McAllister, CWC Board Member, with input from others