Senator Smith Supports Local Control of Schools in Late Night Vote

Augusta – Late Tuesday afternoon the State Senate voted on changing the Education Reform Bill. Senator Smith believes that local control of education is vital to maintaining the quality of education in Maine.

The Minority Report amendment of the education bill, as introduced by Senator Raye, allowed individual districts to remain in place, and continue to approve their own budgets and retain ownership of their own facilities. It also provides for the creation of Union School Associations as alternatives to RSU’s.

Senator Smith stated that, “The Governor’s proposal to reduce costs by consolidating schools offers nothing in savings to our communities. All it does is take away the control of our local school boards. Senator Raye’s amendment offered changes to the Governor’s plan that would have maintained the local control of our education system which is fundamental to improving the quality of education in Maine.”

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