MEA Leaders/Members:

 As you know, the regionalization of school administration and administrative services, and the consolidation of schools, has been the most hotly debated issue in the Maine Legislature this session and the debate is going to intensify!  Since Governor Baldacci announced his plan in January, seven (7) different bills were introduced, the Education Committee issued several reports, and a sub-committee of the Appropriations Committee worked for weeks to develop a plan.  In short, our existing system of K-12 public education in Maine is on the verge of significant change.

 It is critically important that MEA members’ voices are heard in this debate!

And The Time Is Now!

During April vacation, and over the next several weeks, MEA members need to call, write, and send email messages to State Senators and Representatives telling them that we can support the regionalization of public school administration and administrative services contingent upon the following conditions:

• Student learning environments must be protected!

While changing school administrative structures and reducing overhead costs may be necessary to address Maine’s tax problems, it is NOT more important than maintaining the quality of education that we provide to our students!  Regardless of which plan is passed by the Legislature, it must be sensitive to the disruption that will inevitably be caused by such a significant change in school system structures.

• Members’ employment rights must be protected!

Our employment rights must also be protected.  Salaries and wage rates; insurance and retirement benefits; accumulated leave and accrual rights; seniority; our employment rights; the rights of our retirees; and our working conditions MUST be maintained and protected during this period of change.  School employees must not suffer any loss of employment rights during the administrative restructuring of our schools.  It is simply not acceptable. 

• Members’ collective bargaining rights must be protected!

Our statutory right to collective bargaining must also be maintained and protected. The collective bargaining process provides MEA members with their voice in determining the “wages, hours, and conditions of employment” with employers.  It is a right that has existed for almost four (4) decades and it must not be diminished as a result of such changes. 

• PreK-12 public school educational programs and services must continue to be public services!

This is NOT the time to make the mistake of contracting out public school services in the hope of reducing costs.  Too often public services are handed over to private companies with the hope of realizing cost savings.  Public schools and public school services must continue to be delivered by public school employees! 

• The actual number of school administrators must be reduced and real cost savings must be realized!

Public school administration has become overly bureaucratic and the number of school administrators has increased beyond what our public school systems can afford.  With the threat of future taxpayer revolts in Maine, it is time to CUT the number of school superintendents and other administrators, and achieve REAL savings.  Our students need excellent teachers and school support employees in order to learn at their highest potential.  But our schools have too many administrators that do not contribute to student learning.  It is time to make these cuts. 

State Senators and Representatives Need Our Help Now! 

They need to hear from MEA members from across the state that the time is right to make changes in public school administration and to reduce the number of public school administrators.  Maine voters are calling for changes that will reduce costs while protecting the quality of our public schools.  As Members of the Maine Education Association, we MUST protect our students, our members, and our contracts….and we must help bring responsible changes to Maine’s system of public education.

Please take a few minutes to sent a short letter, an email, or make a phone call to your State Senator & State Representative and urge them to make sure the above conditions are met before any school regionalization or consolidation goes forward.  To contact your Senator and Representative, click on “Cyber Lobby: Guide to the Legislature ”. 

School Consolidation References
(A compilation by Mt. Desert Island schools)

MEA's Talking Points

An Act to Ensure Responsible Government Spending and Investment

“The Responsible Government Spending and Investment Act”
(Summary of the above)

MEA Board of Directors Resolution

Bargaining and the Regionalization Proposal