1. Required Representation:
1. Representatives of SAUs included in Notice of Intent
2. Representatives of member municipalities who are residents of the proposed RSU
3. Members of general public who are residents of the proposed RSU

Recommended:
Convene an initial meeting no later than mid-July

Elect Co-Chairs by majority or consensus vote of entire RPC membership – initial Meeting.

Develop ground rules for conducting the RPC meetings, including model for decision-making.

Determine method of filling unanticipated vacancies (by member decision-making).

Determine role of facilitator, if one is used.

Develop a schedule for regular meetings that respects members and supports timely completion of tasks.

Develop a specific agenda for each meeting.

Document all meetings of RPC, including decisions made and action steps to be taken and by whom.

2. Committee Roles and Responsibilities:
1. Hold one or more public meetings to gather input from/determine sentiment of community members
2. Develop Notice of Intent for proposed RSU to be submitted by members SAUs
3. Develop Reorganization Plan for proposed RSU to be submitted by member SAUs

Recommended:
Determine role of facilitator for public meetings, if one is used.

Schedule public meetings at times that respect community members and are timely.

Develop a specific agenda for each public meeting that ensures both information sharing and public input.

Document all public meetings, including any action steps to be taken and by whom.

Determine role of facilitator in gathering/compiling data for documents to be submitted.

3. Timelines for Submissions:
1. Notice of Intent – August 31, 2007
2. Reorganization Plan (or Alternative Plan) – December 1, 2007
3. Revised Reorganization Plan (if returned by Department by December 15, 2007) – 30 days after return
4. Department Determination on Revised Plan (if applicable) – 14 days after submission of revised plan
4. Notice of Intent
5. Reorganization Plan Form
6. Alternative Plan Form
7. Evaluation Criteria for Department of Education Approval of Plan

A. REORGANIZATION PLAN REQUIREMENTS:  The reorganization plan must meet the requirements set forth in the required form referenced in section 5, above.

B. ALTERNATIVE PLAN REQUIREMENTS:   The alternative plan must meet the requirements set forth in the required form referenced in section 6, above.

C. PARAMETERS FOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT:  In order for the plan to be approved by the Commissioner, the governing bodies of school administrative units shall work within the following parameters:

1. The proposed regional school unit must serve not fewer than 2,500 students, except where circumstances relating to the following factors justify an exception:
1. Geography, including physical proximity and the size of the current school administrative unit;
2. Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition and nature of communities in the regional school unit;
3. Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized;
4. Transportation;
5. Population density; or
6. Other unique circumstances including the need to preserve existing or developing relationships, meet the needs of students, maximize educational opportunities for students and ensure equitable access to rigorous programs for all students.
2. The plan must provide comprehensive programming for all students from kindergarten to grade 12 and include at least one publicly supported secondary school.
3. The plan must be consistent with the POLICY OBJECTIVES set forth below.
4. The plan may not displace teachers or students or close any schools existing and operating during the school year immediately preceding reorganization, except as permitted as follows:

        20-A MRSA
              § 1511.    Supermajority vote to close school in the regional school unit

A school operated within the regional school unit may not be closed unless closure of the school is approved at a regular or special meeting of the regional school unit board by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the elected membership or voting power of the regional school unit board.

§ 1512.  Closing school

1. Vote; cost of election.  A school in a member municipality of a regional school unit may not be closed unless the voters in the member municipality vote on the article in accordance with the referendum procedure set forth in this chapter.  “Article:  Do you favor authorizing the board of directors of (name of regional school unit) to close …………. (name of school)?

Yes       No
 
The additional cost of keeping the school open has been estimated by the regional school unit board to be $…………”

The election must be conducted within that member municipality only, pursuant to department rule, and the costs of the election are borne by the regional school unit.

2. Expense of keeping the school open.  If the voters vote by a majority vote to keep the school open, the member municipality is liable for some additional expense for actual local operating costs and transportation operating costs as defined in section 15672.  The determination of costs is subject to the approval of the commissioner.  The cost to be borne by the municipality voting to keep a school open is the amount that would be saved if the school were closed.  Any additional costs that must be borne by the member municipality must be part of the article presented to the voters at the meeting to determine whether the school should remain open.
3. Costs and procedures during subsequent years.   During any year subsequent to the year during which a school remains open contrary to the regional school unit board’s vote to close that school as a result of a municipal referendum, the school will be open without any additional cost to the municipality except as described in paragraphs A and B.
1. If the regional school unit board again votes to close the school and the voters of the member municipality again vote to keep the school open, as described in this subsection, then the school will remain open and the member municipality will be obligated to pay the additional costs as described in subsection 2.
2. If the regional school unit board again votes to close the school and the voters of the member municipality fail to vote to keep the school open, then the school is closed.  In this event the school may be reopened only if the regional school unit board
4. Definition of school closing.  For purposes of this section, a school closing is any action by the regional school unit board that has the effect of providing no instruction for any students at that school.
5. Method of payment by liable municipality.  If a municipality is liable for additional expenses as determined in subsection 3, paragraph A, then the amount of this additional expense must be subtracted from the regional school unit budget before each member municipality’s assessment is computed.  This additional expense must be paid by the member municipality that is liable in equal monthly amounts, unless the regional school unit and that member municipality mutually agree to another method of payment.
6. Multiple municipalities.  If a school proposed for closure is an elementary school that serves students from more than one municipality, the article set forth in subsection 1 must be submitted to the voters in each of the municipalities that sent all elementary students from that municipality to the school.  If the article is approved by a majority of the voters in each of the municipalities, the school is not closed and the municipalities share in the costs under this section in the same proportion as they share the current operating costs of the school. 

Introduction | Timeline | Guidelines for Reorganization Planning Committees | Required Elements of the Plan
Regional School Unit Implementation | Community Committee Members

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