YORK - It has been over a month since the York School Department filed its alternative plan to the state's school consolidation mandate, and still local officials are waiting for a response from the Maine Department of Education.
"I've had no news," York Superintendent of Schools Dr. Henry Scipione confirmed prior to press time, adding that if no word comes from the state in the next couple of days, he will be seeking an explanation from the Department of Education on the status of the decision.
The York School Department filed its alternative plan to the state's consolidation mandate in advance of the Department of Education's March deadline, but Scipione and Assistant Superintendent Jim Amoroso have only received communication that the plan was received and was scheduled for review in the weeks since then.
School officials met with representatives from the Department of Education and worked with legal counsel, town officials and state legislators in preparing the alternative plan, which seeks an exemption from the mandated consolidation of schools districts comprised of fewer than 2,500 students. York's alternative plan cites such factors as economic implications and status as a high-performing district.
Previously, the York School Department had been working with Wells-Ogunquit to meet the state's consolidation mandate. However, both districts agreed to suspend their merger discussions and submit alternate plans after learning that districts of similar sizes had done just that earlier in the process and, rather than being found in violation of the consolidation law, had their plans accepted by the state.
See the May 16 edition of The York Independent for more on the alternative plan status.
