By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

The Maine Department of Education has approved the consolidation plan for Maine School Administrative District 71 and Arundel school district pending a referendum vote Nov. 4 by residents of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. 

Public hearings took place in each of the towns last week. Since October 2007, the 15 members of the committee have had 35 public meetings as well as numerous subcommittee meetings to devise a plan for consolidation, according to Regional Planning Committee Co-Chairman Maureen King. 

The committee began creating the plan by outlining goals for consolidation, which included defining educational benefits, maintaining an elementary school in each town, determining a near neutral cost sharing and arriving at a consensus that is not detrimental to student education or the community, King said.  

Some educational benefits from consolidation that the committee has outlined are access to new and existing programs at a shared cost, professional development opportunities and collaboration for all employees, increased access for adult education as well as avoiding penalties that would incur if school districts do not consolidate. 

King said these benefits also come with maintaining the existing quality of education at a “high performing” standard while providing equitable education in all schools in the regional school unit, maximizing cost savings and streamlining administration. 

Cost sharing

The planning committee was required to create a plan for cost sharing between the three towns to account for costs above Essential Programs and Services state funding. Committee member John Sharood explained cost sharing for Essential Programs and Services funding is determined by the state and based 100 percent on pupil count. Since the amount determined by the state does not completely fund education, especially in areas such as the arts, foreign languages, extracurricular activities and transportation, the committee created a plan to share the community contributed cost based on 60 percent property valuation and 40 percent pupil count.

“We felt this was the best formula to have the least impact on the towns,” King said. 

Property transfer

The planning committee also determined what properties and debt would transfer to the regional school unit. The finance subcommittee determined MSAD 71 would retain all their debt that Kennebunk and Kennebunkport will be responsible for paying. Arundel will retain responsibility for debt, King said. She said as far as property, all buildings and land owned by MSAD 71 would become property of the consolidated district. Mildred L. Day School in Arundel would transfer as well, but since Arundel owns the playing fields and bus barn, the town will maintain ownership for local access and recreation programs.

With consolidation, a formation of a new school board will be comprised of three members from Arundel, three from Kennebunkport and six from Kennebunk. Board members will be elected officials and serve staggered three-year terms. 

Voting ‘No’

The planning committee said the impact of a “no” vote Nov. 4 would result in a reevaluation of the plan. King said if residents of all three towns do not approve the plan for consolidation by Jan. 30, 2009 the state will impose penalties on both school districts. Arundel will have to absorb an allocation reduction by the state of $120,000 and Kennebunk and Kennebunkport will be responsible for $640,000 that the state will not provide to MSAD 71. Local mil rates in all three towns are slated to increase by 2 percent during the 2009-2010 fiscal year if the plan is rejected. Along with financial penalties the schools that do not consolidate will also receive less consideration for state funds school construction or repair. 

“School consolidation is state law and with the state enforcing financial penalties, voting no would be devastating,” King said. “The penalty for Arundel will come directly out of their K-5 budget and the $640,000 for Kennebunk and Kennebunkport is a huge amount and that is just the first year.”

King said residents who are thinking about voting against consolidation are looking at a very shortsighted solution. She said she does not anticipate a repeal of the consolidation law will pass at the state level, an opinion shared by Sharood.

“The chances of changing the law are limited unless the power changed in Augusta,” Sharood said. “Communities that benefit the most are big urban communities, such as Portland, and because those communities have the largest number of voters I don’t feel we will be able to change the law.”

Reactions

Arundel resident Ron Couture has a fourth grader at Mildred L. Day School and an eighth grader and a sophomore both attending school in Saco. He said he is against consolidation because he thinks it is bad for the town and the state.

“The state is trying to get out of funding education and shifting it to local municipalities. The penalties are a means of getting towns to do what the state wants,” Couture said. 

Kennebunk resident Ed Geoghan, who was recently denied appointment to the MSAD 71 board by the Kennebunk Selectmen in favor of Sharood, agrees. 

“The RSU wouldn’t be on the ballot if it weren’t for the threat by the state to reduce funding,” Geoghan said. “The penalties will be there but it’s a threat. I don’t know how the state in good conscience can impose the penalties.”

Kennebunk Selectmen Chairman Wayne Berry said he thought there was more to gain as far as cost savings from consolidating with Wells and Ogunquit, a plan that was originally looked into when the committee for consolidation formed in July 2007. 

“The savings in this plan are trivial. As for the penalties, that state is just not giving you any more money, but how many times can they reduce the amount? It’s not clear,” Berry said. 

Regional Planning Committee Co-chairman Dana Peck said he hoped the public hearings gave the people a chance to listen to the facts and not draw their own conclusions from heresy. From a financial point of view, Peck said Kennebunk will pick up the largest portion of educational funding because they have the largest pupil count as well as high property valuation, but if voted down the penalties will impact education and the taxpayers more than consolidation.

“People are upset with the law as are most of us on the committee, but it is in the best interest long term,” Peck said. 

“It is up to every voter to study this plan and understand it,” Berry said. 

Residents of Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport will vote Nov. 4 on the proposal for consolidation, and a positive vote in both school districts is required to pass the plan. The complete plan can be found by visiting Mildred L. Day School Superintendent’s Office or MSAD 71 District Office, or by linking to the RSU 57 Web site through www.msad71.net or www.arundelschool.net.