An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1932
Committee Amendment CA_A-SA_A_S416 (Senate)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §1461

SENATE AMENDMENT" A "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, 
L.D. 1932, Bill, "An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding" 
Amend the amendment by inserting after section 2 the following: 
II 
'Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §1461, sub-§3, ,n, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. 
XXXX, § I3, 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. 
(I) The proposed regional school un it must serve not fewer than 2,500 students, 
except where circumstances relating to the following factors justify 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 justify 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 aR6, schools operated by tribal school committees and 
previous education units in which the population density is less than 100 
residents per square mile, may it serve fewer than 1,200 students. 
Page \- 123LR3324(14)-1 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
~",. 
SENATE AMENDMENT "A "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, L.n. 1932 
In addition to the exceptions provided in this subparagraph to the requirement 
that a unit serve at least 1,200 students, the commissioner, in the commissioner's 
discretion, may waive the 1,200-student requirement. 
(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 amendment by inserting before section 12 the following: 
'Sec. 12. PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §36, sub-§6, ~A is amended to read: 
A. The proposed regional school unit must serve not fewer than 2,500 students, 
except where circumstances relating to the following factors justify an exception: 
(1) Geography, including physical proximity and the size of the current school 
administrative unit; 
(2) Demographics, including student enrollment trends and the composition and 
nature of communities in the regional school unit; 
(3) Economics, including existing collaborations to be preserved or enhanced 
and opportunities to deliver commodities and services to be maximized; 
(4) Transportation; 
(5) Population density, including the rural nature of our communities; 
(6) 
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; or 
(7) If, after performing due diligence to develop a regional plan that meets the 
2,500 students enrollment requirement, a school administrative unit is unable to 
achieve the enrollment goal due to the decision of geographically proximate 
school administrative units to participate in a different regional unit. 
When circumstances justify an exception to the requirement of 2,500 students, the 
unit must serve at least 1,200 students, except for offshore islands ami, schools 
operated by tribal school committees and previous education units as defined in the 
Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 1, subsection 20-A in which the 
population density is less than 100 residents per square mile, which may serve fewer 
than 1,200 students. 
In addition to the exceptions provided in this paragraph to the requirement that a unit 
serve at least 1,200 students, the commissioner, in the commissioner's discretion, may 
waive the 1,200-student requirement.' 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
SENATE AMENDMENT 'A "to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 741, L.D. 1932 
SUMMARY 
This amendment allows a state-approved unit of school administration that was 
responsible for operating public schools prior to the reorganization of school 
administrative units pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 1 03-A to 
serve fewer than 1,200 students if the area it serves has fewer than 100 residents per 
square mile. In addition to the exceptions provided by law to the requirement that a 
school unit serve at least 1,200 students, the amendment provides that the Commissioner 
of Education, in the commissioner's discretion, may waive the 1 ,200-student requirement. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
SPONSOREDBY: __ ~~~~~~~ 
__ ~~~~~ 
(Senator GOOLEY) 
COUNTY: Franklin 
SENATE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/06/08 ;!:Pac.. 
LD 1932 
LR 3324(14) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding School Funding 
Fiscal Note for Senate Amendment "A " to Committee Amendment "A" 
Sponsor: Sen. Gooley of Franklin 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Allowing certain school administrative units to serve fewer than 1,200 students if the area it serves has fewer than 100 
residents per square mile may increase the total cost of K-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. 
LR3324(l4) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1