Reservations persist on school plan Voters decide on AOS Jan. 27

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Next Tuesday, Jan. 27, voters in several school districts will have the opportunity to vote in favor of an Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) or reject it. The affected areas are: Hersey, Bancroft, Moro Plantation and Orient, Maine School Administrative District Nos. 14, 25, and 70 and Southern Aroostook Community School District No. 9. The alternative organizational structure would have an effective date of July 1, 2009.
    SAD 70 Superintendent     Robert McDaniel says “this is a vote one more time to avoid penalties” since they rejected consolidation in the past. SAD 70 is looking at $90,000 in possible penalties.
    He says the new plan, the AOS, would leave everything in place with one exception — the elimination of all the central offices. Those would be replaced with one central office and one superintendent for the entire district. “You would still have your own school boards, the ownership of the schools would remain the same. Your local control would be preserved,” says McDaniel.
    Managing and administration in such large districts could become unwieldy with some ten school boards and up to 13 contracts. With only one superintendent to manage the districts, the AOS would have to honor current contracts. Superintendents would be able to move into other roles for the remainder of their contracts. Additional administrators may be necessary for management and administration of various departments.
    At a public hearing January 12, CSD 9 Superintendent Terry Comeau says  people were concerned since they had not been able to have input and have not had enough information. “I think people need to be very careful in thinking about it,” says Comeau.     He also says he is uncertain of any possible savings. It’s almost a plan to start planning, says Comeau. He has copies of the plan available for anyone who needs one and will take calls from residents who have questions.
    SAD 29 Chairman Brian McGuire says the district is looking for a partner that best serves the taxpayers and students of Houlton since they rejected school consolidation. He also says SAD 29 does not face immediate penalties since they are proceeding in good faith to find a partner and develop a plan.
    For all the affected districts, the legislature has the option to impose penalties, do away with penalties or delay them.