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Contributed by Suzanne L. Connolly 2008-10-22

Falmouth — Maine’s school consolidation legislation is one of the most well-intentioned boondoggles since the No Child Left Behind Act.

Though admirable in its aim, the plan appears based more on hope and prayer than it does any factual evidence to prove it can achieve the substantial cost savings it claims. As it reads now, the plan simply winds up costing taxpayers more money and gives them less in return.

Need proof? Examine the Falmouth, MSAD 51 (Cumberland and North Yarmouth) consolidation proposal – a plan the state has heralded as “exemplary.” If approved, this plan will result in $1.5 million in start up costs over the first three years alone. Add an estimated $700,000 to $2.8 million a year to bring MSAD 51 educator’s salaries and benefits up to standard. This translates to significant tax increases for everyone, almost half of which will be borne by Falmouth.

Where are the much-touted savings and the highly proclaimed economies of scale? Purchasing, transportation and other business related expenses have already been examined and there’s just not a lot of fat left to trim. Is that to say nothing can be done? No. Districts can and should be encouraged to collaborate to achieve savings. With the current economic instability, no one has extra tax dollars to gamble on iffy state-mandated consolidation plans that can’t guarantee savings without compromising the quality of local schools. Taxpayers should not have to “take a leap of faith” in yet another unfunded state mandate. According to the Brookings Institute, much of these purported cost savings can be achieved without wresting away local control or forced consolidation.

“Maine could realize between $10 and $35 million in annual K-12 education-costs savings without closing or consolidating a single school by reducing administrative costs to various national or Maine-consolidated-district standards” Brookings said.

There are better options. School districts have the right to submit an alternative plan outlining how they meet, or exceed, the requirements to be exempted from the mandatory legislation. Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and York have already received such approval. If these neighboring communities can make it work, why can’t Falmouth and MSAD 51? There is no penalty for an approved alternative plan. Indeed, the validity of the state’s coercive, punitive penalty assessment process is already being called into question.

Towns with alternative plans also maintain local control. The same can’t be said for consolidation. Under the proposed plan, the new nine member board would be made up five members from MSAD 51 – three from Cumberland and two from North Yarmouth – and four members from Falmouth. Yet close to 50 per cent of the students come from one community – Falmouth. What this means no one’s needs will be met without an appeal to other towns for support.

A final consideration is whether bigger is actually better. It’s a sad truth that large, multi-town districts are inherently problematic. Witness Portland’s $2.5 million budget deficit. If the Falmouth/MSAD merger is approved, it will create the third largest school district in the state. The unfortunate reality is when serious issues, such figuring out cost per pupil ratios, evaluating capital improvement projects, or slashing failed school budgets, cooperative efforts break down miserably, people begin pointing fingers and chaos ensues. Think it can’t happen here? It already has. MSAD 51 officials say students in the new consolidated district can choose what school they’ll attend. Falmouth officials say they won’t. Falmouth officials further concede they’ve previously tried to coordinate school calendars with SAD 51, but failed when neither group could agree on a common schedule.

The statewide movement to consolidate school districts as a means of saving money is a noble endeavor, when the proposals are solid and there is actual proof of substantial, sustained savings. However, the Falmouth/SAD 51 plan simply fails prove its merits. It’s time to put this piecemeal patchwork of promises to rest. Vote no on consolidation on Nov. 4.