PORTLAND — Maine’s Republican governor and senior U.S. senator disagree over whether philanthropist Betsy DeVos should be confirmed as education secretary. Sen. Susan Collins says she won’t support the nomination of DeVos. Collins, who is often regarded as moderate, says she’s concerned DeVos’ lack of experience with public schools would make it difficult for her […]
education
Posted inMaine
Susan Collins takes a stand against Donald Trump’s education nominee
Maine’s senior U.S. senator, Republican Susan Collins, said Wednesday that she will oppose President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of education. In a move praised by the Maine Education Association, Collins said she cannot vote for Betsy DeVos for the post because she’s concerned the nominee doesn’t have enough familiarity with the needs of public […]
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Posted inMaine
Susan Collins still unsure about Betsy DeVos as nation’s education chief
It still isn’t clear whether U.S. Sen. Susan Collins is willing to vote for President Donald Trump’s nominee to run the U.S. Department of Education. Collins agreed Tuesday to support sending Betsy DeVos’ name to the full Senate for consideration but specifically mentioned that she had yet to make up her mind which way to […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Gov. Paul LePage wants more charter schools
LEWISTON — Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to allow more publicly funded charter schools in Maine is getting mixed reviews. LePage wants to change the state law that caps charter schools at no more than 10 statewide. How many more, and whether they get approved, would be up to the Maine Charter School Commission, which has […]
Posted inLetters
Make it work in Maine
Does it make any sense for each individual community to have its own school department, school board and school budget? Are we now facing a time when change should be considered? Administrative costs and management of all those schools continues to rise faster than the cost to pay teachers and provide needed supplies for students. […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Gov. Paul LePage’s budget omits school surtax
AUGUSTA — The governor’s proposed budget would do away with a school-funding surtax on the state’s top earners approved by voters in November. Question 2, which voters narrowly passed on Nov. 8, raised taxes by 3 percent on annual incomes of more than $200,000; that money would go to K-12 schools. Gov. Paul LePage has […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine
Gov. Paul LePage may seek referendum to abolish income tax
Gov. Paul LePage is still eyeing ways to accomplish his long-stated goal of eliminating Maine’s income tax. Rather than try to sway a wary Legislature, the governor is looking at a referendum question that would let voters decide whether to do away with “this unruly income tax.” LePage told Portland radio station WGAN Thursday that […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
Gov. Paul LePage signs order to encourage regional schools
AUGUSTA — Looking to incentivize school consolidation in Maine, Gov. Paul LePage issued a sweeping executive order on Monday calling for new regional school models. The Republican governor signed the executive order on Monday, but it was posted to his state website on Tuesday and it directs the Maine Department of Education to take three main steps: […]
Posted inMaine, sj-web
William Beardsley resigns from Department of Education
AUGUSTA — William Beardsley, the de facto leader of Gov. Paul LePage’s Department of Education, has resigned for personal reasons, LePage announced Wednesday. Beardsley’s last day will be Dec. 23, 2016. He will be replaced by Robert G. Hasson, who will serve as acting commissioner. “Bill Beardsley is a man of tremendous integrity, intellect and […]
Posted inFranklin
Strong students expand learning with drumming
STRONG — Kids need to move. Daily, they sit in classrooms. Later, they may sit in front of televisions and computers. Teachers and others involved with the cognitive development in young people have long understood the connection between movement and learning. They know that those children not involved in some sort of physical activity may […]