Central Maine Blog

Amended comments of original informational email following public meeting of January 6^th:

There is a misunderstanding among some that if Winslow votes this plan down that it will go back to the RPC (Regional Planning Committee) for renegotiation. If Winslow votes this plan down and Waterville and Vassalboro approve the plan then Waterville and Vassalboro will have an approved AOS and they will therefore avoid the penalties and move forward with the detailed work required to become operational as an AOS by the new fiscal year beginning July 1^st. There will not be a RPC to go back to in an attempt to renegotiate a different plan unless two towns vote down the plan. If Waterville and Vassalboro approve the AOS and proceed to move forward, the plan provides an option for Winslow to join them within the first year (at the expense of a new referendum cost detailed in the plan) but Waterville and Vassalboro would be under no obligation to negotiate a different agreement with Winslow. I would believe that it would be unlikely for them to have any interest in renegotiating since they supported the original plan and why would they change it, and secondly, they will be very busy with getting the new AOS operational and are unlikely to want to take the time and effort when there would be significant work associated with this in the short period of time before July 1^st. Thirdly, if they were to renegotiate after Waterville and Vassalboro have begun the process of setting up their approved AOS then Winslow would have no say in the hiring of the Superintendent or staff since Waterville and Vassalboro would have already completed that process in the initial phase of AOS formation.

Another concern raised at the public meeting was that Waterville would control the hiring of the Superintendent with their 4 votes on the AOS board. While Waterville would have its 4 votes to use, the intent of all local school boards is to form a equally represented search committee consisting of school administrators, town/city councilors, teachers, and other individuals to evaluate, interview, and recommend a Superintendent candidate to the AOS board for approval. This is a common practice state-wide.

A concern was raised about the Superintendent not working for the local school board and therefore the local board woul not have a say about his/her actions. While it is true that the local school boards would not have the authority to unilaterally hire or fire the Superintendent, the Superintendent is clearly responsible to the local board for the functions he/she oversees on behalf of the local school board (most all functions remain local as explained above). The local school boards can also make the Superintendents life difficult if this becomes an adversarial relationship. A would believe no Superintendent would want to operate in this manner. Ultimately none of this is any different from our current configuration as a union. The Superintendent is hired/fired by the Union 52 board, not the local boards but they clearly are responsible to carry out local policy and curriculum as the local board dictates.

The vote on this plan for Winslow residents will occur at the Winslow Town Office from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on January 13^th. Absentee ballots are available now if you wish to exercise that option.

Please vote.

Gary N. Smith