An Act To Remove Barriers to the Reorganization of School Administrative Units
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2323
House Amendment HA_C_H1030 (House)

HOUSE AMENDMENT "C" to S.P. 931, LD. 2323, Bill, "An Act To Remove 
Barriers to the Reorganization of School Administrative Units" 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 the following: 
'Sec. 4. 20-A MRS A §1461, suh-§3, ~, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. 
XXXX, § 13, is amended to read: 
B. 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, 
except where circumstances relating to the following factors justity an exception: 
(a) 
Geography, including physical proximity and the size of the current 
school administrative unit; 
(b) Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition 
and nature of communities in the regional school unit; 
(c) Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced 
and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized; 
(d) Transportation; 
(e) Population density; or 
(f) Other unique circumstances including the need to preserve existing or 
developing relationships, meet the needs of students, maximize educational 
opportunities for students and ensure equitable access to rigorous programs 
for all students. 
When circumstances justity an exception to the size requirement of 2,500 
students, the unit must serve as close to 2,500 students as possible and in no case, 
except for coastal islands afHi, schools operated by tribal school committees and 
geographically isolated inland communities with schools separated by more than 
miles by road, may it serve fewer than 1,200 students. 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
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HOUSE AMENDMENT "c", to S.P. 931, L.D. 2323 
(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. 
(3) The plan must be consistent with the policies set forth in section 1451. 
(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 under section 1512.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds certain geographically isolated inland communities to the list 
of communities that may serve fewer that 1,200 students under the laws governing 
regional school units. 
SPONSORED BY, zf!i:4= ~~ 
(Representative JOHNSON) 
TOWN: Greenville 
FISCAL :\OTE REQLlRED 
(See attached) 
HOUSE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/16/08 fraC! 
LD 2323 
LR 3653(05) 
An Act To Remove Barriers to the Reorganization of School Administrative Units 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for House Amendment "C"" 
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson of Greenville 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Allowing certain school administrative units to serve fewer than 1 ,200 students if the area is a geographically isolated 
inland community with schools that are separated by more than 25 miles may increase the total cost ofK-12 public 
education in future biennia due to less savings being achieved versus what was anticipated in Public Law 2007, 
chapter 240, Part XXXX. The amount can not be determined at this time. 
LR3653(05) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1