AUGUSTA -- Three years have passed since the first regional school units formed in response to Maine's consolidation law.
The following communities have voted to negotiate withdrawals from their regional school units.
Arundel (RSU 21)
Belfast (RSU 20)
Belmont (RSU 20)
Ellsworth (RSU 24)
Frankfort (RSU 20)
Glenburn (RSU 26)
Hancock (RSU 24)
Lamoine (RSU 24)
Ludlow (RSU 70)
Monmouth (RSU 2)
Morrill (RSU 20)
Northport (RSU 20)
Swanville (RSU 20)
Veazie (RSU 26)
Westport Island (RSU 12)
Wiscasset (RSU 12)
Source: Department of Education and staff research
While some new school districts have worked together with
little conflict, in several others time has either failed to mollify
concerns that accompanied the formation of the districts or created new
tensions that are driving communities to seek a way out.
Sixteen municipalities have taken the first official step toward
withdrawing from regional school units that began forming in 2009. In
many others, residents are circulating petitions to trigger the initial
vote or just starting to explore their options.
The reasons are nearly universal. Critics say they haven't seen the
financial benefits of school consolidation, and they miss having local
control over budgets, curriculum decisions and buildings.
Some say the effort to force consolidation through financial
penalties was ill-advised and that such school units just won't work, at
least in some communities.
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