Federal stimulus funds are finding their way to districts that might not have the greatest need for the money, recent articles in The New York Times and
School superintendents knew their districts would have to absorb more than $27 million in cuts this academic year. Now, each one knows his or her district's share of that spending curtailment.
Tomorrow, school districts across the state will know their fate.
Well, at least they'll know to what extent they'll have to curtail spending from their current budget for the remainder of the school year.
As some see it, a number of forces are stoking fears about school closures:
1. The coming budget season.
2. Shrinking student numbers.
3. School district consolidation.
Those forces have all been on display this week in central Maine.
Education Commissioner Susan Gendron is warning superintendents that local aid to their districts will likely be among the spending areas hardest hit by Gov. John Baldacci's recent $150 million curtailment order.
I reported this morning that nearly a third of the state's school districts -- 91 to be exact -- did not receive subsidy checks from the state this month.
Debate is likely to continue this winter on Maine's controversial Essential Programs and Services school funding formula.
The formula, which the state uses to determine the size of the subsidy local school districts receive, is often derided by school officials and school board members.
