Wells-Ogunquit school district in bid to remain independent

Seacoastonline.com, July 24, 2008

WELLS — School Superintendent Ed McDonough led a contingent to Augusta on Monday to make a final case that the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District should be allowed to remain a stand-alone unit.

State Representatives Kathy Chase, R-Wells, and Dawn Hill, D-York, joined McDonough and School Committee Chairman Damon Russell in meeting with Education Commissioner Susan Gendron.

Gendron had earlier denied the district's request to avoid consolidating with another school district. In 2007, Gov. John Baldacci approved legislation that required school districts in Maine with less than 2,500 students to find nearby districts and merge operations. WOCSD was unsuccessful in doing so, so they requested a waiver from Gendron.

"I think she pretty much agreed with us that we were doughnut holed (that is, unable to find a geographically proximate partner district despite making attempts to do so," McDonough said. "She said her reorganization team would reconsider our request and give us a response within 14 days."

The meeting was yet another step in a process that has spanned more than a year. In that time, the Wells-Ogunquit district unsuccessfully sought to merge first with MSAD 71 (Kennebunk, Kennebunkport), and then with the York School District. In the former instance, state-mandated financial methodology made the merger too costly for WOCSD.

In the latter instance, the formula made a merger too costly for York.

Both York and WOCSD appealed to Gendron to be allowed to remain stand-alone districts. Gendron approved York's request but denied WOCSD's, telling the district to instead reopen discussions with MSAD71 since the earlier problems with the financial formula had been remedied.

MSAD71, however, had an already approved plan to consolidate with Arundel and turned down WOCSD's request. That left WOCSD with no viable partners in geographic proximity.

That was part of the case the district made in a written statement to Gendron. Noting that York and MSAD71 were not possible partners, McDonough also wrote, "The other school units in reasonable proximity of the CSD have already had their Alternative Plans approved (MSAD35 and MSAD60) or are in process of completing their Alternative Plan (Sanford)."

As a result, McDonough argued, the district qualifies for the so-called doughnut hole exception that exists in the consolidation law.

"We'd be the first district to fit under that category," he said.

In her earlier denial, Gendron had questioned the long-term financial sustainability of the district as a stand-alone entity.

McDonough, however, made the case that the district is sustainable, citing the strong popular support in the two towns in approving the annual budget, the fact that this year's budget included only a 1.25 percent increase despite the difficult economy, and the population growth in Wells.

McDonough also noted that the district received only the minimum state subsidy, "which indicates that from the state perspective, the school unit is largely capable of sustaining itself."

Finally, the district argued that it already is collaborating significantly with MSAD71 on a number of fronts, including transportation, some administrative services, and, potentially, education programming.

McDonough said he is hopeful of a good outcome.

"She asked good questions and listened to us," he said. "It was a very positive meeting."