Schools await response State comment on alternative consolidate plan expected soon

By Allie Kinney yorkweekly@seacoastonline.com April 09, 2008 6:00 AM

YORK - School officials still are waiting to hear back from the state about a plan to opt out of school consolidation.

At a School Committee meeting Wednesday, April 2, Superintendent Henry Scipione announced that he expects to hear back from Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron within two weeks. York submitted an alternative plan March 26, claiming economic and special circumstantial exemptions from reorganizing with the Wells/Ogunquit Community School District.

The move is in response to Gov. John Baldacci's cost-saving plan to consolidate 290 Maine school districts to 26 by July 2008. York officials have said the school district would lose money by participating in the reorganization.

There was also an update on the music instructional space planned for York High School. Scipione/Amoroso reported that the first-year bond payment for the project would total $142,265. If approved by voters in May, construction on the space would begin by either 2010 or 2011. The committee agreed to look into finding a way to present how much the project would cost to individual taxpayers.

The School Committee also heard a presentation about Virtual High School, a nonprofit that offers diverse, credit-bearing online high school courses to students all over the world. Students participate as individuals and in collaboration with other students in elective courses run by actual high school teachers. The courses are not meant to replace a high school's required classes, but to expand upon elective courses offered.

YHS career coordinator Kevin Beatty stated that adding Virtual High School courses would help students "gain time-management skills, prepare for college, study areas of high interest, and become more competent with technology and the online classroom