Reorganization Plan

The Milford School Committee must submit their Reorganization Plan to the Commissionor of Education by December 1, 2007. The School Committee and the Reorganization Planning Committee is in the earliest stages of planning and negotiations with other School Administrative Units (SAU) for the purpose of developing a reorganization plan to form a Regional School Unit (RSU).

12/1/2007

The Milford School Committee submitted (by law) the following reorganization plan. The plan is incomplete due to a state-wide slowing of the entire consolidation process. The plan submitted simply states the towns we are currently having consolidation discussions with.

Reorganization Plan Submitted on December 1, 2007

The RSU 16 committee consisting of the towns of Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Milford, Orono, and Old Town are currently working on the development of this plan.

Future Plan Development

PARAMETERS FOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT

In order for the plan to be approved by the Commissioner, the governing bodies of school administrative units shall work within the following parameters.

1. The proposed regional school unit must serve not fewer than 2,500 students.

2. The plan must provide comprehensive programming for all students from kindergarten to grade 12 and must include at least one publicly supported secondary school.

(There is no requirement that the High School be physically located within the gepgraphical area of the Regional School Unit)

3.  The plan must be consistent with the POLICY OBJECTIVES set forth in the law.

4.   The plan may not displace teachers or students or close any schools existing and operating during the school year immediately preceding reorganization. , except as permitted by law.

REQUIRED ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN

1. The units of school administration to be included in the proposed reorganized regional school unit. 

2. The size, composition and apportionment of the governing body. 

3.  The method of voting of the governing body. 

4. The composition, powers and duties of any local school committees to be created.  

5.   The disposition of real and personal school property.  

6. The disposition of existing school indebtedness and lease-purchase obligations if the parties elect not to use the provisions of section 1506 regarding the disposition of debt obligations.  

7.  The assignment of school personnel contracts, school collective bargaining agreements and other school contractual obligations. 

8.  The disposition of existing school funds and existing financial obligations, including undesignated fund balances, trust funds, reserve funds and other funds appropriated for school purposes. 

9.   A transition plan that addresses the development of a budget for the first school year of the reorganized unit and interim personnel policies.  

10.   Documentation of the public meeting or public meetings held to prepare or review the reorganization plan.   

11.  An explanation of how units that approve the reorganization plan will proceed if one or more of the proposed members of the regional school unit fail to approve the plan.  

12. An estimate of the cost savings to be achieved by the formation of a regional school unit and how these savings will be achieved.  

13. Such other matters as the governing bodies of the school administrative units in existence on the effective date of this chapter may determine to be necessary.