Senator Snowe-Mello Supports Local Control of Schools in Late Night Vote

For Immediate Release

February 12, 2008

Augusta – Late Tuesday afternoon the State Senate voted on changing the Education Reform Bill. Senator Snowe-Mello 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 Snowe-Mello said, “I was proud to support the minority report amendment as the best way to deal with the Governor’s consolidation plans. The Governor’s plan offered nothing but a loss of local control to our local communities.

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