Donald Beattie of Winthrop, ME Nice article Matt. Keep at it Harvey, etc. This article keeps me informed of what is happenening in the region and in Winthrop where I live and where my kids went to school/evebn graduated. Still these three 'units' whatever confuguration they may ultimately become are still the central thesis' of my CELEBRATING EXTRAORDINARY MAINE EDUCATORS: LEADERS CONTINUE TO LEARN AND TEACH. These several towns have a record of many great educators, past and present and I am enjoying interviewing them and writing about them--inc luding Ena Wallingford and Priscilla (Berry) Stephenson and many, many others still in the trenches loving and working with kids to make them wonderful people. This meeting, noted in the article, is certainly Democracy at work. I believe the decision of 9-8 truly represents the sentiments I heard verbally and saw non-verbally during the meetings I held prior to this one. Keep up the hard work committee!!!!You did well! And as far as my local legislator is concerned, Pat Flood, he is the best in my mind and I ain't no Republican. He is but he spans party lines to do the best job anyone could do with so many ideas floating around his committee assignments. No constituency could boast a better thinker/laborer in the vineyard and worker on behalf of all the citizens/resudents of the state of Maine. Well, maybe Stan Moody when he was a rep in a nearby district. I'm proud to pay my taxes with this man, Pat Flood, on the appropriations committee, eh? Don Beattie in Winthrop, ME.report abuse

Clyde Dyar of Mount Vernon, ME While attending the meeting I was very pleased to see the deliberations and discussions resulting in a positive step forward. Both sides presented positions very well. However, I left the meeting thinking that there needs to be more discussions with the Department of Education and probably legal insight into the intent of the legislation to accomodate the "bridging" of concerns on both sides. While I have been opposed to this or any other consolidation with constraints placed on the municipalities by the legislators by their own actions. It seems that it has to happen because of the law passed by the legislature. It is tantamount to holding a gun to ones head while robbing them. The cost for either option is an increase in your property tax and loss of local control for your children. So when you get your tax bill check to see how your representative voted. Once again school consolidation is forced upon you while also losing state funding for it.report abuse

AMomFirst of Winthrop, ME I would love to see this whole thing fall flat and have Winthrop remain on its own. There are several ways to combine services (payroll, transportation, special education, etc.) without merging school districts, and still see considerable savings.report abuse

Melissa Grant of Wayne, ME Im really hoping that this is resolved with the individual elementary schools integrity intact. I have two kids in the Union 42 school district. Part of the reason my husband and I bought a home where we did was because of the small school. I grew up going to Readfield Elementary School and Maranacook. Im not necessarily liking the whole school consolidation plan, however since we dont have much of a chose, I hope the committee can resolve the issues without losing our small schools.report abuse