LEWISTON – Sen. Susan Collins will meet Monday with the Lewiston School Committee to discuss the effects recent federal education reforms and limited special education funding are having on Maine’s schools.
“The fears that we have are federal mandates that remain unfunded. The burden falls to local property taxes and state,” said Lewiston Superintendent Leon Levesque.
Lewiston committee members began planning a meeting with the state’s congressional delegation last fall, when they said it became clear that the federal government was not going to give Maine enough money to pay for the sweeping reforms required under the No Child Left Behind Act.
The School Committee had hoped to meet with all four members of Maine’s congressional delegation at once, but scheduling conflicts prevented that. Lewiston School Committee members, lawmakers and some parents met with Democratic U.S. Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud for two hours in March. Officials are still working to schedule a meeting with U.S. Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe.
On Monday, Collins will meet with School Committee members to talk about inadequate federal funding and their concerns over No Child Left Behind’s requirements. Auburn School Committee members have also been invited to attend.
The hour-long meeting will be open to the public, but there will be no time set aside for public comments.
The meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be held in Lewiston City Hall.
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