Baldacci Vindicated: School Consolidation Upheld
By Matthew Gagnon on Tuesday, November 3, 20093 Comments
It wasn’t close from the moment results started pouring in. Question three – the ballot initiative aimed at overturning the Governor’s contentious school consolidation program – has gone down in flames tonight.
With 71% of precincts reporting, the no on 3 coalition can claim victory, currently holding 58% of the vote, to only 42% for Yes. That outcome will not change tonight.
This vindicates the Baldacci administration’s move to consolidate schools, and likely provides him with some limited political capital for his remaining few months of governance.
Popularity: 1% [?]
With so many districts untouched by consolidation I didn’t have much hope it would pass, even if I supported the repeal.
It’s ironic that the law which was supposed to save money by consolidating schools in order to eliminate central office staff required nothing of the sort. Since Maine apparently wants school consolidation, let’s at least figure out where the savings will actually come from – not just cross our fingers and hope.
Nancy is right, although consolidation seems like the way to go, why isn’t there a mandate that the new RSUs demonstrate savings to the participating municipalities?
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