New candidate, new education platform

State Sen. Peter Mills, R-Cornville, announced his intentions today to run for governor in 2010. What could that mean for education in Maine?

Brian Hubbell of MDISchools.net helpfully points out Mills' stated platform, highlighting his education credo.

One thing that's apparent is Mills' doggedness in pushing a longer school day and more physical education in schools.

It's a proposal he's pushed perennially during his time in the Legislature. It's also a proposal that's been repeatedly shot down because of its estimated price tag.

If he becomes governor, a longer school day with more physical education would become a more viable possibility by virtue of having the executive push the change. But that still leaves the question about how the state and local districts can afford to pay teachers for 10 additional school days and the increased capacity to ramp up physical education offerings.

The only hint Mills leaves is in his commentary on school district consolidation.

As governor, according to his Web site, he'd seek to alleviate "administrative burdens from (schools') backs through voluntary consolidations incentivized by the state."