November 17th Education Committee Agenda

November 11, 2009 -

Education & Cultural Affairs Committee

Tuesday, November 17, 2009@ 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cross State Office Building, Room #202

*** DRAFT *** AGENDA *** DRAFT ***

9:00 a.m. CHAIR’S “CALL TO ORDER”: Introductions and Preview Agenda

9:15 a.m. BRIEFING: Commissioner Gendron, Maine Department of Education
Review and update Department of Education proposals for FY 2010-11
budget savings related to the “Initiative to Streamline State Government”
(pursuant to PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. QQQ)

10:15 a.m. WORK SESSION: Education & Cultural Affairs Committee Recommendations
to Appropriations & Financial Affairs Committee in Response to their Request for
Feedback on FY 2010-11 budget savings Related to the “Initiative to Streamline
State Government” (pursuant to PL 2009, c. 213, Pt. QQQ)

11:00 a.m. BRIEFING: Commissioner Gendron, Maine Department of Education
Review and update Department of Education proposals to meet FY 2009-10
and FY 2010-11 budget reduction targets, including implications for General
Purpose Aid for Local Schools program and the process and timeline for
potential curtailments as part of Governor’s supplemental budget bill

11:45 a.m. LUNCH

12:30 p.m. BRIEFING: Panel Discussion on Improving the Laws Governing
School District Reorganization:

The Honorable Lawrence “Skip” Greenlaw, Chair, Maine Coalition to Save Schools
Superintendent Roger Shaw, MSAD 42 (Mars Hill)
Superintendent Quenten Clark, MSAD 58 (Kingfield)

1:15 p.m. BRIEFING: Panel Discussion on Improving the Laws Governing
School District Reorganization:

Commissioner Gendron, Maine Department of Education
Ray Poulin, Consultant to Maine Department of Education (INVITED)
Norm Higgins, Consultant to Maine Department of Education (INVITED)

2:00 p.m. BRIEFING: Improving the Laws Governing School District Reorganization:

The Honorable Richard Spencer, Attorney, Drummond, Woodsum, McMahon (INVITED)

2:20 p.m. BREAK

2:30 p.m. BRIEFING: Commissioner Gendron, Maine Department of Education
Update on the following initiatives, including implications for the annual costs to State and the annual costs to local school units:

* High School Graduation Requirements and Standards-based Reform, including Reinventing Schools Coalition Pilots
* Oregon Curriculum Project to Review High School Curriculum Compared to National Standards
* Response to Intervention
* Maine Learning Technology Initiative

3:15 p.m. WORK SESSION: Education & Cultural Affairs Committee and Staff
Preview of the committee workload, including anticipated bills, oversight
duties and other initiatives on the docket for the 2nd Session in January 2010

4:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT: Announcements and Wrap-up


Senator Justin Alfond
134 Sheridan St
Portland, ME 04101

(207) 828-0277

Justin@JustinAlfond.com

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