Arundel Town Manager Todd Shea provided the Arundel Board of Selectmen with the existing Thornton Academy Middle School contract and arbitration order from an August 2010 hearing.
Selectmen requested copies of the contract and arbitration after residents at a July 11 meeting addressed the board in hopes that their children attend Middle School of the Kennebunks.
The contract states that all middle school students from Arundel must go to Thornton Academy Middle School. Last year’s arbitration between Thornton Academy and RSU 21 solidified the contract’s language and also allowed 19 Arundel middle school students to enroll at Middle School of the Kennebunks who had indicated a desire to attend the school prior to the hearing. Twelve Arundel students enrolled at the middle school at the district’s expense. The ruling prohibited the district from enrolling additional Arundel middle school students unless the contract was terminated.
Arundel, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport residents in May voted to leave the contract in place.
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Just FYI, Mr Stasio continues to claim that "Legally his hands are tied,"
ReplyDeleteThis is not true, and has been confirmed. The ball in completely in his corner, and he can, but refuses to make exceptions for children.
I just think in the effort for true transparency, people ought to understand that.
If that's the case,then my assumption about Thornton being about the "almighty dollar" is true. That's really sad. This last vote tells us that there won't be a mass exodus from TAMS, so there will be no damage done at either school to allow for choice. Make everyone happy and let this be over. (2)
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if it was over. Unfortunately, TA doesn't have to renegotiate the contract, and why would they after the contract was broken with intention to do so? If at most, the contract does get renegotiated, then it must be equitable to all parties involved, including those students who are *forced to attend MSK, from the other 2 towns*.
ReplyDeleteOn another note, Mr. Stasio's hands may just be tied. If the contract were to go to negotiation, he does have a Board of Trustees that makes the final determination.
If there were to be true transparency, then MSK students from Kennebunk and the Port should be able to attend TAMS. Be careful what you are asking for.
Reality of it all, I do not believe that the RSU had to go to such extreme measure to resolve this issue in the very begining, to the final determination by vote. If, by chance there would have been better communication, and more thoughtfulness to the contract, and most importantly the Town of Arundel, then those students who want to attend MSK would not be in the situation that they are in.
People make contracts everyday, how would you like you contract to be broken, costly arbitration, and to be have uncertainty and unknowns for over a year?
This whole issue isn't as easy as anyone would think.
We all need to move forward, and into the right direction.
The people who continualy state the contract was broken are not informed correctly. As indicated by the arbitrator, there was more than one interpretation as the contract was written. RSU21 made a move that was pro education. TA did not agree and forced arbitration. All part of the contract.
ReplyDelete"Agrees to educate ALL".. does not read Arundel agrees to send ALL. However, since one side keeps saying get over it. let's get over waht happened with the contract.
Let's move on to why TA will not allow kids to go to MSK, even though they will be paid the tuition as though they were going to TA. If this was about education, then it is a no brainer. Since TA will not allow them to go, I ask what is it about?
The thoughtfullness of the RSU was in trying to bring kids into the RSU. Both educational and financial improvements.
What thoughtfulness has TA shown lately? What thoughfulness has Arundel shown?
Do not forget, we are getting an improved education with a reduced budget. You may want to point to communication issues, but I think the issue was not pay attention to the correct story.
Those in Arundel who led the charge this past fall and spring have better be front and center explaining, if we end up standing alone and it all goes back to the way it was.
Accurate information!
ReplyDeleteIn the Matter of the Arbitration Between
Thornton Academy and Maine Regional School Unit 21:
"The vote by RSU 21’s Board to allow 45 students from Arundel to attend the Middle School of the Kennebunks is contrary to the terms of the contract, which is binding on RSU 21. The testimony supports the conclusion that the Board members voting for the pertinent motion did so in good faith, and largely with good intentions. However, under the contract, RSU is simply not entitled to solicit, accept applications from or enroll publicly tuitioned students from Arundel."
AND
"Prior to the entry of an Order of Stay in this case on June 6, 2010, RSU 21 had accepted inquiries and/or applications from the parents of 19 students from Arundel (12 going into the 6th grade, 3 into the 7th and 4 into the 8th) who wished to have their children enrolled in the Middle School of the Kennebunks. The enrollment of any of the referenced children by RSU 21 represents a breach of the contract between the parties."
We do need to move on! We need to move on because there is now yet another legal and binding document, and a vote that says Arundel middle school students will be educated at TAMS, not MSK.