ADMINISTRATIVE LETTER # 9

POLICY CODE:  DEB

 

TO:                  Superintendents of Schools

 

FROM:             J. Duke Albanese, Commissioner

 

DATE:             September 16, 2002

 

RE:                   FY 2003-2004 GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION ADJUSTMENT

 

            Any school administrative unit wishing to apply for consideration to be classified as geographically isolated for the 2003-04 school year must submit the Geographic Isolation Status Application form (EF-M-241) by October 15, 2002.    The Geographic Isolation Status Application form is available from the Department of Education’s homepage at: http://www.maine.gov/education/forms/forms.htm

 

Please note that if you have already been approved for geographic isolation status in a prior year, it is not necessary to fill out the Geographic Isolation State Application (EF-M-241) again.  If you have obtained prior geographic isolation status, you only need to send us a letter as described in Section 3(B) of Maine Department of Education Regulation 27 (Rules for Determining Geographic Isolation Status).  The complete rules pertaining to the requirements for eligibility for the geographic isolation adjustment can be located at the following web address:  ftp://ftp.state.me.us/pub/sos/cec/rcn/apa/05/071/071c027.doc

 

            Section 3 of the rule is as follows:

 

Section 3.                Application for Geographic Isolation Status

 

                A.                Each school administrative unit must apply for consideration to be classified as a geographically isolated unit.  The application for geographic isolation status shall include all documentation that is necessary for a review of the request.  This application must be received at the Department by October 15th, in order to receive adjustment funds for the following fiscal year.

 

                B.                Each school administrative unit that has been approved for geographic isolation status must annually submit to the Department, no later than October 15th of each year, a letter which either (1) affirms that the geographic isolation conditions of the school administrative unit have not changed since the prior year, or (2) details the specific changes that might affect the rating of the unit for the next year.

           

            Please return the application or letter to Suzan Cameron, Management Information Systems Team, 23 State House Station, Augusta, ME  04333-0023 or fax to (207) 624-6791.  If you have any questions about geographic isolation, please contact Suzan Cameron at 624-6790 or email at suzan.cameron@state.me.us

 

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