“Originally the Many Flags Steering Committee hoped to make application for new school funding in the Fall of 2007 – however, due to the Statewide School District Consolidation initiative, the Maine Dept of Education has decided to not accept applications for new school funding until Fall 2009 (at the earliest – and possible not till Spring 2010 !!).

For that reason, the Many Flags Steering Committee is pursuing Legislation in the 2nd year of the 123 Legislation to require the State Board of Education, by Dec 31, 2008, to set criteria for selecting an innovative secondary/post second education model – and by 12/31/08 select an underserved area of the state to become the model program for the state – and further, to ensure that funding will be come available to that selected program/community, as soon as new school funding can be made available.

The bill was introduced by Representative Chris Rector of Thomaston and is co-sponsored by Rep Ed Mazurek of Rockland. The proposed bill was approved unanimously by the Legislative Council in Oct 2007 and will be heard in the 2008 legislative session.

aWe will be posting more information re the legislation, its status, and how you can support this effort during the legislative session.