An Act To Exempt Certain Isolated RuralCommunities from the Minimum Student Enrollment Requirements in the Laws Governing the Reorganization of School Administrative Units (EM:ERGENCY) . Reference to the COlllillittee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered printed. .
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0778
Sponsors: MacDONALD, AYOTTE, EDGECOMB, HUNT, PRATT, SCHATZ, GOODALL

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124thMAINE LEGISLATURE 
" 
Legislative Document 
No. 778 
H.P.529 
House of Representatives, February 26, 2009 
An Act To Exempt Certain Isolated RuralCommunities from the 
Minimum Student Enrollment Requirements in the Laws Governing 
the Reorganization of School Administrative Units 
(EM:ERGENCY) . 
Reference to the COlllillittee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
. 
Presented by Representative MacDONALD of Boothbay. 
711~ 
1?1.17l!U;~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: AYOTTE of Caswell, EDGECOMB of Caribou, HUNT of 
Buxton, McKANE of Newcastle, PRATT of Eddington, SCHATZ of Blue Hill, Senator: 
GOODALL of Sagadahoc. 
Printed on recycled pilpCI' 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the provisions of this Act must take effect immediately to allow school 
administrative units to meet statutory time lines related to school administrative 
reorganization efforts; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
. the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
iinmediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
. therefore, 
. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. lPL 2007, c. 240,lPt. 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 ar;td 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 
. 28 
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 arul~ schools 
operated by tribal school committees and units located in isolated rural communities 
that meet the criteria established in paragraph A-I and that enter into collaborative 
agreements for administrative, instructional and noninstructional . functions with 
another school administrative unit as set forth in Title 20-A. chapter 114 prior to July 
1,2009, which may serve fewer than 1,200 students. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
Page I - 124LR0190(Ol)-1 
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SUMMARY 
This bill amends the laws governing the reorganization of school administrative units 
to provide that school administrative units located in isolated rural communities may be 
eligible· for an exception to the minimum student enrollment requirements by entering 
into a collaborative agreement for administrative, instructional and noninstructional 
functions with another school administrative unit prior to July 1, 2009.