The regional planning committee (RPC) for consolidation of School Union 49 (Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Southport), Union 74 (Bremen, Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, and South Bristol), and Jefferson adopted the alternative organization structure (AOS) approach to consolidation at their June 18 meeting at the Edgecomb Eddy School. School Union Superintendents Bob Bouchard (Union 74) and Eileen King (Union 49) were asked by the committee to provide a draft framework for a local consolidation plan that will be considered at the RPC's next meeting in August.

The AOS structure was developed during this past year's legislative session as part of the package of "fixes" to make the school consolidation proposal more acceptable to small communities. This new structure serves as an alternative to the consolidation approach defined in the 2007 statute, and rejected by many for usurping local control over schools.

Under the AOS approach, the new consolidated school unit would share central office functions and a core curriculum, but local school boards would be allowed to maintain some control over local school budgets and property. Consolidated districts would be required to consolidate administration of special education, transportation and business functions. They also would have to plan for "consistent" collective bargaining units, although not all teachers and other personnel would have to be paid the same, at least not immediately.

It is now up to the RPC and superintendents to develop the specific plan for consolidating local schools. That plan must be approved by the Department of Education and be voted upon by residents in each affected community by January 30, 2009.