Lawmakers on Tuesday voted on three charter school regulation bills that, while inconsequential in the immediate future, signal building momentum among Democrats in the Legislature to tighten the standards on Maine’s charter school system.
A second bill from Brennan sets the enrollment ceiling of Maine’s two virtual charter schools at 1,000 students, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year and disallows a school from expanding to serve another grade level beyond the grade levels approved in a school’s initial contract. A competing bill from Sen. Matt Pouliot, R-Augusta, would have removed the state cap of 10, mirroring an effort that began with former Gov. Paul LePage in 2013 but was resisted by Democrats. The committee voted it down unanimously.
After an early rush, there has been less interest in adding charter schools in Maine. There are currently nine charter schools operating in Maine, and since LePage began his push for the system in 2011, debate has simmered. Charter schools have been lukewarmly received by many, in part because their funding siphons away state money otherwise designated for area public schools. The state’s teachers union has long opposed them. Legislators, including Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, the education panel’s co-chair, have questioned the continued operation and renewal of some charters, including Cornville Regional Charter School, despite lackluster performance in some areas and ongoing challenges, like chronic absenteeism, and retention of students and teachers.
“That reapproval process is where accountability lands,” but there is no explicit rubric defining how the commission should revoke a school’s authorization, if that’s what is deemed necessary, she said.
Kautz said the commission can and would elect to close a school now if it sees fit, and that it gauges school progress comprehensively. “We see the whole school … you see the state assessment,” he said.
But Democrats might be boxed in by their past opposition to school rating systems. Millett was a leading opponent of a 2013 LePage administration proposal to enact a grading system by which parents and community members could compare the performance of Maine public school systems. Expect Republicans to point to that opposition if Democrats push for some similar form of charter school performance measurement.
Today in A-town
Legislative committees will hold hearings on proposals including one on chemicals in food packaging, and one panel could vote on a sick leave bill. It will be another long day of hearings at the State House. Supporters will hold a morning rally before a 10 a.m. hearing on a bipartisan bill from Rep. Jessica Fay, D-Raymond, that would phase out the use of phthalates, a group of chemicals linked to reproductive issues in animals, in food packaging. Listen here.
Several committees could move high-profile bills to the chamber floors on Wednesday. Those proposals include a sick leave bill from Millett that has gone through a revision already and has reportedly been altered again under Gov. Janet Mills’ supervision with a goal of attracting bipartisan support. The labor panel will work on it at 1 p.m.
The elections oversight committee could vote on several bills aimed at changing the referendum process and expanding the use of ranked-choice voting, most of which are unlikely to pass. The tax committee will deal with proposals to increase revenue sharing to cities and towns, and the environment committee will work on a bill that would mandate a study of the emissions impact of Central Maine Power’s proposed transmission line before it is built.
Reading list
— A woman accused of sending a threatening letter to Maine’ senior senator will be held without bail. Burlington resident Suzanne E. Muscara, 37, waived her right to a probable cause hearing and agreed to be held without bail during an appearance Tuesday in federal court in Bangor. She allegedly mailed a letter to Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in October that contained a white powder that the sender claimed was anthrax. The letter came after Collins’ vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. Postal authorities intercepted it before it could be delivered to Collins’ home in Bangor.
— Maine’s new Department of Corrections leaders are trying to slow the turnover rate at the state’s largest prison. Last year, 55 of the approximately 180 corrections officers at the Maine State Prison left their jobs. That’s on par with past departure rates, according to warden Matthew Magnusson. The department is working internally and with McLean Hospital to address stress, mental health concerns and other causes of the chronically high turnover rate.
Long may she run
On the plus side, I still have both of my original knees and hips. Unsullied and uncut. On the negative side, I now have a midriff that was not original equipment.
Many of my colleagues run, allegedly for fun or personal betterment. Some say that they do it for the endorphin rush. I will continue to save my endorphins for the apocalypse. Others say running helps clear their heads. I suggest that a clear head is overrated.
That brings us to Joan Benoit Samuelson, who on Monday won her Boston Marathon age bracket, 40 years after she won the race as a college senior in 1979. At age 61, she finished the 26.2-mile trek in 3 hours, 4 minutes, which was only 28 minutes and 45 seconds slower than her winning time 40 years ago.
She and I are the same age. When she was a college senior winning the Boston Marathon, I was a college senior sitting in a radio station playing commercials during Red Sox broadcasts in hopes of earning enough money to pay for my diploma. I also sometimes threw a Frisbee.
Today’s Daily Brief was written by Michael Shepherd, Alex Acquisto and Robert Long. If you’re reading this on the BDN’s website or were forwarded it, click here to receive Maine’s leading newsletter on state politics via email on weekday mornings. Click here to subscribe to the BDN.
To reach us, do not reply directly to this newsletter, but email us directly at mshepherd@bangordailynews.com, aacquisto@bangordailynews.com, and rlong@bangordailynews.com.
