School consolidation hearing set

    AUGUSTA — On Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. the Joint Standing Committee on Education will be holding a public hearing on the Commissioner of Education’s bill to amend the funding of the school consolidation plan. This appears to be an effort by the Commission to answer short-term impacts on the local community that are working toward consolidating school districts.
    This hearing will be one of only two opportunities for the public to offer their opinions to lawmakers on school consolidation. This first hearing will focus only on the financial aspect of the consolidation plan. The next hearing, some time in January, will offer people the opportunity to talk about the impact of consolidation.
    “The school consolidation plan has a major impact for those of us in rural areas,” said Sen. Sherman. “This hearing is an opportunity to voice our concerns over this ill conceived rushed and poorly analyzed legislation. I remain disappointed that the Democrat Majority did not allow any of the more than 60 legislative proposals dealing with consolidation to be considered next session. 
    “So it is crucial that citizens take advantage of these hearings to discuss the Governor’s school consolidation plan,” he added.
    The hearing is to discuss the impacts of consolidation will occur sometime in January. At that time the public will have the opportunity to voice their concerns about the policy itself not just the funding.