University of Maine System needs to quickly chart a new course and figure out how to restore budget cuts already made and spend that money by June 30 or it may not be eligible to receive funds under this legislation, which requires continued spending at least as high as the greater of FY 2008 or FY 2009 spending. Being in budget-cutting mode is not helpful in securing eligibility for the portion of Maine's estimated $190 million that should go to public higher education. For example, the $50,000 that was cut from USM library book purchases in the current years must be restored quickly if the money is to be spent effectively before June 30.

However, recent history of postponing repairs and energy efficient renovations to classroom buildings while compiling lists of such projects for possible bond funding puts some UMS campuses in a position to offer "shovel ready" projects that can move quickly to award of contracts if UMS can change direction fast enough. Still, there are serious cognitive barriers to making these changes quickly, and little evidence UMS is moving yet in the right direction.

Gendron do something wisely? Yeah, when hell freezes over.

Mervyn: Let's see if I have this straight. In other words, "Quick, UMS, we need to get rid of those cuts we made so we can get more money from the tax payers. We don' t want it to look like we could go without a few things or we won't get our share of the doe!!!!!!!!"

As I have predicted previously (fallen to deaf ears no doubt), this only puts off the inevitable unless it is used for construction purposes ONLY!!! It should NOT be used to fund staff or programs that will have to be picked up or cut in two years as that serves no purpose other than a tease.

It seems that Mrs. Gendron is already spending it. She has required that ALL 11th grade students in Maine take the SAT on May 2, 2009. These tests normally cost $45-$50. But for this MANDATORY testing, they are free to the students. So WHO IS paying for them? And what is the sense of taking these tests if the results are only going to be seen by Maine Board of Education? The whole purpose of taking these exams in your Senior year of High School (12th Grade) is so that Colleges have a way to measure the freshman class for their next year. What is the most redundant about all of this is the fact that most schools offer PSAT's to their students. These preliminary SAT's are for practice. They let you know how well you are doing in which subjects and where you need to better yourself for college entry. They are also FREE. If Mrs. Gendron wants to see how Maine students measure up, use the PSAT results.

Mrs. Gendron has no clue. She needs these tests so it will make her look like she is doing her job. Common Gendron you are waist of money to this State.Why don't you go back to teaching if any school will hire you.

I can only hope John Martin was trying to make a point that penalties are already hurting Maine towns that voted "no" on school reorganization under the Commissioner's plan. If he was serious about imposing additional negative sanctions, voters in his community need to take a second look at whether or not to keep him next election cycle.

Biden made it clear to the group that the $100 billion has to be used wisely.

“He looked us all in the eye and said, ‘By golly, you all better deliver,’” Gendron said.

Too funny, sort of like giving an alcoholic a 50 gallon barrel of whiskey with a spigot on it and telling him to "by golly," drink responsibly. Is Biden REALLY that naive?

So they will "wisely" spend all this money which will eventually become a further drag on our future economy when it's time to repay it with higher taxes, but no matter how much money is thrown at new programs and new school construction, our kids still won't be able to get a decent job in Maine. Our focus needs to be on making Maine more business (employ people, pay taxes) friendly, not in more government programs/spending. We are speeding down the wrong, dead-end road and it's going to be a very hard crawl back just to where we are now, let alone anything better. The US, and especially Maine, used to mean rugged individualism and pride in making it on your own. When/where did we lose that?

SAT's don't prove anything. It was stupid to require them for all Maine 11th graders. When are we going to accept that college is not appropriate for everyone? There is nothing dishonorable about taking up a trade. We need to take this money and turn the community college system back into a technical college system. This is coming from a college graduate. College is not for everyone, just look at the knuckleheads in Orono. We should also reduce funding to UMO and make USM the flagship university since it serves more students. Above all, we need to remove Gendron from her office because she doesn't know what she's doing. If she does know what she's doing and is taking directives from Baldy, she needs to stand up to his royal Baldness or resign if she doesn't have the backbone.

Yeah I have seen funds spent wisely....$400,000.00 for so called art to sit on the lawn.

More than likely, the Education Commissioner will use that money to further blackmail the schhols into doing her bidding, the same as she did on the consolidation issue. Remember the rule: do as we tell you or we will cut you entitlement. No matter how you look at it that is blackmail. Typical operating procedure for our government in Maine.