Lots of work on the agenda for the Education Committee today…

Education & Cultural Affairs Committee
Tuesday, November 17, 2009@ 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cross State Office Building, Room #202

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

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