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School Administrative Reorganization
Learn more about the reorganization law and its implementation
Former
and Current School Systems - UPDATED 10/08/09
For purposes of converting school cancellation and other systems. Updated as of September 11, 2009. This version includes contact information for RSU 83, which was missing from earlier version. Also includes some recent contact changes. This spreadsheet will NOT be updated regularly. For the most current contact information for an individual district, please follow the instructions on the "Contact Info" tab in the spreadsheet.
(This spreadsheet has two tabs - one showing former and current systems and one showing contact information)
The Department is required, under the reorganization law, to conduct a review of unfunded mandates pertaining to school administrative units (SAUs), and to report the findings to the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Education, along with recommendations for addressing the findings.
Read the report
Commissioner's Briefing on ReorganizationNEW
Materials from the Commissioner's briefing to the Education Committee, February 9 and 18, 2009
Implementing ReorganizationNEW
With the first round of reorganization referendum votes completed, attention has turned to implementing the plans that were approved by voters and providing assistance – both technical and in educational planning.
In addition, the Department is reaching out to every school system where voters turned down a reorganization plan to see what they want to make happen and what assistance the Department can provide, including continued access to facilitators at the Department’s expense, other planning resources, and funds to pay for an additional referendum vote where desired.
We are also focusing our efforts on Educational Planning services.
- Former superintendent Mary Jane McCalmon is working with a group of facilitators to assist RSUs in combining and aligning their educational programs and philosophies. There is a great deal of excitement among superintendents over this work. The Department is providing free services of facilitators for this work, and also planning grants of $5,000 per RSU.
We are also looking to see how we can help non-conforming school systems benefit through regional educational efforts, even if they are not reorganizations.
Update on ReorganizationNEW
- 84% of all students in the state are in school districts with approved plans
- 98 separate school districts, with an average enrollment of 566 students, have reorganized into 26 RSUs with an average of 2,133 students
- Of the non-conforming districts, 15 voted yes but were unable to form a regional district because their potential partners voted against reorganizing. These 15 units represent 5,465 students
Commissioner's Briefing to Education Committee, February 9 and 18, 2009NEW
At the Education Committee's request, Commissioner Gendron provided a briefing which included the origins and early history of the School Administrative Reorganization Law and a status update
Powerpoint Presentation (in PDF format)
Commissioner's presentation to the Committee
Reorganization Status of All SAUs
Spreadsheet showing status, enrollment, per-pupil operating cost, and other data for each individual SAU, including which SAUs operate and do not operate a school
Status of RSU/AOS Implementation
Election of board members; first meeting dates; selection of superintendents
Financial and Other Resource Assistance to RSUs and AOSs
Listing of past, present, and pending assistance to SAUs working to reorganize
Summary of the reorganization law
Explanation of Alternative Organizational Structures
Map showing breakdown of state by reorganization status
For viewing or printing on 11x17 paper (LARGE - 5 MB PDF file)
Updated status of all plans
Status of all reorganization plans (updated 10/08/09)
Education Planning Services for RSUs and AOSs
As new Regional School Units, including those with an AOS structure, begin the work of implementation, school boards, superintendents and other district leaders and staff will face the challenge of creating a unified culture of high expectations for student learning. It is a complex challenge and each RSU will be in a different place with different needs.
The Department is making available $5,000 education planning grants and the services of a facilitator to reorganized units that choose to use them. New districts can use this money to do the planning needed to bring the people and education programs together into one unified system.
Information about services available and how to access them.
Guidance to Municipal Clerks and Interim Secretaries
Regarding the Reorganization Referendum Process
Letter to Municipal Clerks and School Officials from Jim Rier, Director of Finance and Operations (December 1, 2008)
Interpretive ruling by MLRB regarding negotiation of teacher contracts by RSUs
The Maine Labor Relations Board has issued an interpretive ruling on this subject. See:
http://www.maine.gov/mlrb/decisions_in_pdf/09-IR-01.pdf
More...
View all reorganization and alternative plans and responses
What are alternative organizational structures?
Reorganization Updates by e-mail
