RSU 18 was originally comprised of MSAD 68 (Dover-Foxcroft), MSAD 4 (Guilford), MSAD 46 (Dexter), MSAD 41 (Milo) and School Union 60. Guilford, Dexter and Harmony are now working together on an already-approved plan, and Milo is attempting to work with other units outside of Piscataquis County. These developments have led to MSAD 68 and Union 60 to join together.

The forum began with RPC member Susan Mackey-Andrews providing an overview of the school reorganization requirements. The criteria for approval includes a 2,500 student requirement, unless certain "exception" requirements were met. Those exceptions include geography-physical proximity, demographics-enrollment trends, economics, transportation, population density, or other unique circumstances - which means preserving existing relationshipd in some cases.

Also included in the criteria for approval would be comprehensive programming for K-12, consistent with policies regarding school choice, which maintains that new school districts must not displace teachers or students or close schools. Worth noting is that particular caveats are only in effect during the school year preceding reorganization. After that, such requirements will not exist. Leaving the door open for possible closure after that time.

Legislation comes with a two-thirds vote requirement when it comes to closing schools. That places importance on the makeup of the RSU, since two-thirds of the RSU Board of Committee could be comprised of members from one of the former districts, making it more likely that budgetary concerns could lead to two-thirds of the Board to support closure of one, or more, of the schools. Following a two-thirds vote to close a school, however, would be a vote held in the town most closely affected by such a closure. Assuming that town voted against the closure, the municipality would pay the difference of savings the unit would experience by closing the school.

Every Regional School Unit (RSU) must also have a publicly-supported high school, but more than one in any RSU is allowed. Students who currently have school choice will continue to do so. On the flip side, as it was explained at the forum, those who did not previously have school choice will continue to not have school choice, regardless of changes that may arise during the reorganization process. Greenville resident Janet Chasse asked, "What reason would we have to join the RSU?"

Committee members responded by saying that the goal would be better educations, as well as cost-savings. They also maintained that, due to the ever-changing explanations from the State, "what we tell you today, may be a lie tomorrow."

Another Greenville resident, Sally Johnson, inquired about potential educational opportunities that may be available with the partnership. It was illustrated that students from Monson may choose to take advantage of certain opportunities in Greenville and attend there. Furthermore, students from Greenville may be able to take advantage of said opportunities in Dover-Foxcroft, and so on and so forth.

The RPC will continue to meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. There is a March 28th deadline to submit the next iteration of the plan. Following that will be a scheduled public hearing, submission to school boards for their review, submission to the Maine Department of Education and development of a referendum vote. The deadline to hold said referendum will be November 4, 2008.

"There is much more work to be done by RSU 18." explained Committee memeber Mackey-Andrews.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Tuesday, January 29, 2008 edition of the Moosehead Messenger and is used here with permission."