IF THE SCHOOLS WHERE NOT SUCH WASTERS THEN THEY WOULD HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. IN hOULTON THEY WASTED EVEN MORE TAXPAYER MONEY BY DOING A REBUILD ON THE AUDITORIUM WHICH THEY DID NOT NEED BUT THATS THE WASTE WE HAVE AND HOULTON COULD NOT BE A BETTER EXAMPLE. BY THE WAY THE MONEY ALSO IS FROM THE REST OF YOU TAXPAYERS AROUND THE STATE, THANKS FOR BEING GREAT SUCKERS.

How about this, the state pays my wife a teachers salary and we can home school my kids. I don’t even want benefits from the stupid state. That should save you some money. Then you can have as many shut down days at the educations expense as you want.

My kids spend more time preparing to pass the stupid state MEA tests then actually being taught anything in class. My eighth grader has been preparing for them since school opened so far. I ask her what she did today, “we did prep work today, no homework, again

Good Idea. Let's dum it down. Isn't it time we had a representative that says" by no means is it acceptable for our children to receive any less education, I charge all school systems to maintain a high standard".

the no smoking laws are starting to bite this state in the a$$.which most of us knew it would ,the bar and lounge business used to be a big payer of state revenue,not anymore ,most are closed or on the verge of it ,a state cant survive on fines from nanny laws alone ,

Thank gawd Baldacci still has his 41 "special assistants", and DirigoHealth gets to keep its millions...

One party rule for 30 years has done wonders for Maine.

Why don't they close down longer in the winter months vacation. Even a week more would save heating in the buildingsand save money and no one would feel the pain.(too simple I guess)

Kids, you stay home, we are sending the governor to England to "explore windpower". But dad, what about my education and getting a good job. Oh son, thats cute, by the time you need a job the government will be big enough to take care of you. Haven't you heard "cotton is short and the weeds are tall but Barak Obama gonna save us all....

Wait a second.....State Workers have a shutdown day once a month...aren't teachers considered state employees too? 7 MILLION A DAY SAVINGS! Math is easy on this one!

Another screw from Baldacci and his henchwoman Gendron. His consolidation plan is the worse thing Maine has seen....let's hope that everyone votes against it in Novemember....send the message that we don't like it. Thank God his term is almost up.....Maine couldnt stand another term of him.

In my opinion the school year should be EXPANDED to year round. Our children are falling behind quite a bit it seems. Cut back on the state employees days, they are pretty much useless anyways. Whenever you try to talk to someone at the state level, all ya get is a automated system anyways. And when you actually do get through, a straight answer does not exist. I think thier hair grows inside out and tickles thier brain. (lol) Come on! You guys can't even answer a phone? Hire some people to answer the lines, jobs created? mmm a novel idea. Or better yet. How about training some of those folks who get assistance to earn thier foodstamps , rent vouchers etc..by simply picking up calls for the state. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

This is obsurd!!! I may just be repeating what's already been said, but what the h#ll is going on in this state? With all the debt the kids in school are going to be stuck with in the future already, making them go to school even less is just kicking them when they're down isn't it? If Maine would PLEASE STOP voting in these Democrats (sorry, but it's true) and put either an Independant or Republican, Conservative businessman or woman in office I truly believe that we may actually be able to at least begin to see the light of day. Currently, we're just sinking further and further into a hole with no escape.

I echo sawbones....this is absurd. Only after every other possible solution is explored should this even be considered. If anything the school year and school day should be expanded to allow for more instructional time. Interesting that this bright idea comes from the superintendents (the group that made sure district consolidation did NOT work and it doesnt). I wonder if salaries of the superintendents will be cut with furlough days. Very doubtful because they can convince their school board members of important it is for them to be at the helm every minute. Then they go off to a meeting in augusta.

So telling that the commissioner feelsthat less instructional time for students is preferable to cutting teachers and programs. Harken back to the recent article on declining enrollment in our schools. We can afford to cut some teachers. But we won't. Kids are going to get the short end of this one - again.

And one last observation. Sen. Justin Alfond worries about the public perception. He should worry more about Maine's dismal graduation rate or the mediocre student performance.

Bad Idea.....

My child attends a brand new, $40,000,000 school in Thorndike. Kid came home yesterday and said there was a flood in one of the classrooms, and that the hands on the clocks were "spinning around like crazy". The school was built by an out of state firm (our tax $ shipped away) instead of a Maine company.

Now "furlough days" for school children? Wake up, Maine...

Home school all the kids and save all the money. A lot of kids get home schooled now and are just as smart MAYBE SMARTER ????

As a former public school teacher, I am here to tell you all our public schools do not work. I spent my time dealing with children who did not have parental guidance, who were hungry and acted out causing trouble for all the class. There were maybe 3 parents in each class that actually took the time to teach their children - Parents have left the classroom or find the school to be a dumping off place- there is not the support that there use to be and if your child actually learns while in school - then you are the lucky one!!

Not a good idea at all. No one has even mentioned the hardship it will make on working parents who must take a day off to stay with the kids or arrange alternate child care.

It is scenarios like this that make me both glad and sad that we left Maine a year and a half ago.

Great idea!

Skuls r a waist of time and moni. I don'ts needs no smarts to git da job an make da moni.

ifs we save da monies on da skools will have more of them to buy the odduer stuf.

good, stay out then. I am so glad all these other states are doing so well, NOT

What a lesson our kids would learn that day. Education isn't important enough to attend 5 days per week.....so to save some money we'll keep you home. The home school idea is another poor idea. I'm tired of hearing from the few parents who enjoy parading their successes and how wonderful they have taught their children...you know what that's from...small class size. I'm sure each and every teacher out there would love to have even 10-12 students in the class instead of 20-24. Education does need to be fixed as the current system is the same system created by our manufacturing boom...kids moving class to class led by bells....standardized tests. It's a new age and new thinking must prevail. Regardless, education is the foundation of success. Keeping kids out of school longer is a mistake.

Let's see, $40,000,000 for a new school in Thorndike, $34,000,000 for Ellsworth, wasn't it $39,000,000 for Brewer, and then Hampden with the all time record for a new school in Maine at $60,000,000. Hmmmmmm $173,000,000 for just 4 new schools over the last 2 years. Wonder if that money could have actually been used TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL! So as nice as the schools are, unfortuately, the kids won't be able to use them.

These shccols are just palces for indoctrination of the liberal elite.

Let's make sure the kids are stupider, so they're more likely to vote republican!

How much savings would we get by shutting down the DOE permanently?

I say folks need to start sending thank you notes to our elected officials for all the awesomeness they're doing for us. NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

They don't give a hoot about us Mainers as long as they keep getting their paychecks thanks to our tax dollars.

I know why don't our elected officials take a pay cut, now there is an idea. I'd like to see them live like the rest of us barely above poverty level.

Let's not get to snippity on folks that get state checks. My child support comes through the state so these mandatory shut down days effect not just those that get state aid, food stamps and etc ;but child support too. I know alot of folks have issues with those that get state aid and food stamps but come on now lets not forget our seniors that get state help too. I really don't think you want to see some 75 year old plus person going without because of having to wait.

I'd like to know about this WELFARE as everyone calls it. When hard times hit for me when I was not working and my ex was and we needed help "I" had to sign up for "ASPIRE" and get a job part time or full time. I was not just handed over a check, I had to work as well and that's what blows my mind where I hear people talking about folks getting welfare. When my daughter was not quite a year they made me sign up for aspire, I also had a son not quite 3. In other words I had a baby and a toddler and was made to go to work in order to get any help. I have neighbors that have children who started pre-school last year (2008) yet they got to be home all day & night. Where is the fairness in that? Why do some have to work in order to get any help yet others do not have too? What made me mad too was that just because my ex as making less than I, I was the one that had to be made to go to work. Not that he didn't want to because he was looking for work, but when it is a married couple why should the mother be made to leave her babies. There is something terribly wrong with the system. I love how when you apply for help they look at your gross income and that is how they base what you get. Do lights not go off in anyone elses head beside mine, if I got to bring home my gross I wouldn't have needed any extra help. I for the life of me would like to know which idiot set up the system as so, basing everything on gross. Hmmmmmm, wouldn't it make much more sense to base needs on actual take home pay. You would think so, but then look at who is running our government and state offices. I rest my case.

Kerry, why would you have kids you can't afford and then expect to be supported??? It sounds like ASPIRE should be required for all of the social parasites.

So Kerry1963 you were MADE to go look for a job. I'm glad. Many mothers want to stay home with their babies but have to go to work to EARN a living - YES EARN! The state (aka taxpayers) should not subsidize your living expenses because you want to stay home with your children.

watchdogME good point. all the wonderful new schools with no kids in them - gotta love this logic?

Shut-down days are the easy solution. The lazy woman's way out of a financial crunch she helped create.

There are too many students in "special education" programs.

We're still buying laptops for students from families who could afford their own.

Children within a mile of school are being picked up by buses then we complain about obesity

Schools are taking on far too many responsibilities for issues which belong to the student's family.

When I was a boy we brought our own lunch to school in a sack. We got the milk for 3 cents.

The University of Maine taught me (when I went for my education Masters) that standardized tests give no information about the students progress or education. Then that same cabal of professors designed standardized tests which now take up the lion's share of student time.

The literacy rate for people in Massachusetts was 98% before the advent of mandatory education. After mandatory education was introduced that rate never exceeded 90%

hey lovetheBDN!! Thank you for your service as a teacher. I really do mean that. I personally have 1 child in middle school, and 1 in MCI in Pittsfield. I communicate almost every day w/ my middle school childs teacher.via e-mail and a occasional call. The one in M.C.I. e-mail plus a weekly mailer mailed out on Fridays to request a report on her homework assignments, and behavior as well. If mamma and daddy aren't happy in iether case, ipods ps3 etc.. t.v. a memory.

When is the state going to realize they NEED a new way to get revenue??!? If they continue this path, we will have 3 weeks vacation for students during the winter months and no new source of money to fund these programs. This is not a permanent solution, so let's quit trying to put a band-aid on things and try to solve the issue. One thing that may help - actually funding the schools 55% like the state said it would, and people voted to make them do!

great idea shut down schools and buy a railroad!!!!

I see no one has pointed at any of the money spent on sports or other extra curricular activities that are also in the budgets. We have buses and staff evolved in these activities when school is out for the year. that is before it starts in the fall and after it ends in the spring. God forbid we cut any sports or let those few parents foot the bill!

I think this state of ours needs to think of another way to cut spending. I am seriously concerned about the education our children are or should I say are not receiving. My oldest daughter graduated in 2003. The valedictorian in her class went on to higher education at Husson College. When she (the valedictorian) attended her English class, she was not even close to being prepared. She had to pay for a tutor to bring her up to speed with the rest of the class because she did not get the required teaching at high school. When she returned to the high school and confronted the principal, it fell on deaf ears. Nothing was done and the principal swept it under the rug!

I can't believe that the state would even make any more cuts to the educational system than it already has. These kids are our future. Do we want a bunch of blithering idiots out there running the county in the future?...of course, one might think we have some running it right now.

And I thought it was the teacher's job to teach the children, not the parents (comment made by lovethebdn) or am I missing something here. Parents are there to make sure that their children get their homework done and teach them the values of life and being a good person and citizen and not doing the teachers' job, who are drawing the paychecks.

Education should be the last thing in this country that has any type of cuts. We need bright and educated people in this country.

Why do people have the misconception that everyone has children and expects the state to take care of them. It just so happens I had a good job back in New York City and was making over $25,000 a year as a Unit Secretary. But as a family we decided to move to Maine because this is where my family is from. My brother asked us to move here, help him with his farm and the raising of his son. Sad to say my brother got in over his head and lost it all leaving us with little or nothing.

The salary I quoted was over 17 years ago. I am 100% sure I'd be making close to $35,000 if not more had I stayed because I had been working at that hospital since I was 17, I had tenure. I have a pension from the union I belonged to that was associated with the hospital. More than I am sure I can say for alot of you.

Some of you need to stop and think use the math you were taught. I would have left two small children in the care of strangers that would never in a million years ever take as good care as my children as I have. I would have paid them on the measley wages here and how much would I have been able to clear after that. STOP, THINK, before you talk.

I am so glad you all knew your futures. I would love to share your crystal ball. When I married and had my children with one man not a dozen like many do today. I had no idea how the future was going to turn out. I did not know we'd lose everything. I did not know back in 1989 that I would end up divorced, no job, living in public housing. For those self righteous you better get on your knees and thank your lucky stars you have not been where many folks are today with little or nothing. I have had 3 different jobs in 17 years here in Maine and unfortunately I am now disabled which I had to fight for.

Before you pass judgement know the facts, it's called asking, inquiring instead of assuming cause you know what you just did to yourself and not me. I'm curious as to what some of you would get as Social Security Disability if you had to go on it right now. I bet half of what I get, I had good jobs, good paying jobs and I wasn't afraid to work. I went to school Mon-Fri and worked every yes every weekend and even worked 2-3 days a week in the school helping with the kindergarten class.

I wonder how many family members some of you have that are second, third generation welfare recipients. I am not one of those. Both of my children have the same father and we were married.

Plenty of folks around that have children by several different men, way to go. I wasn't a teenage mommy or a high school drop out either. I'm not now or was ever lazy. I used cloth diapers, made my formula daily from scratch not some can of powder, I sterilized baby bottles and etc. My children were bathed every night, had Johnsons Baby Lotion and Powder, Oils and etc from head to toe. There is a small percentage of new mothers that don't even take the time to rub the baby down with lotion. it's called laziness. Babies don't even smell like babies, many smell like mommy & daddies ashtray. For many mothers today it's much easier to dress a baby and drop it off at daycare they don't have to deal with the baby that way. I read to my children each and every night. That is why my daughter was barely 5 and reading chapter books, because I took the time to be a mother to my children, day care didn't raise my children for me.

Oh what a great idea!!! 4-day school weeks, and then it will be 3 and then 2 and then who knows what? These kids are going to be dumber than bowling balls and who do we have to thank for that??? The state of Maine, the GREAT ENABLER! These children will join the other thousands who are on welfare who don't work, not because they can't find jobs, but because they don't want to find jobs. And does the "gov" see that this is yet another lame way to save money? Highly doubtful. As long as nothing affects him directly, I personally don't think he gives a rats toot about anything. But as far as I'm concerned, after working 9 hours day after day, I don't care what it takes, I'll sit with my son night after night and work with him on his homework until it's drilled through his head. I"ll be damn if he's going to turn into another statistic.

Where is our money going really?That we need all these shut down days? My husband works for the Decpartment of Conservation and we don't make a whole lot of money, so now the state wants to show our children that education doesn't matter? How come the governor doesn't take a pay cut along with his cornies? This is the most stupidiest thing I have heard of. To save money don't make up snow days and take a week longer vacation in February when we have our coldest weather. Our kids are falling further behind and our state government is making it worse.

Alll good statments hope you all remember this come election time!! Stay involved and do not forget and hold them accountible with your vote. But it has been the memory thang and getting involved that has not happened. So all the chatter won`t matter unless you do something about it. If they do not vote as we like out the door they go no matter what party!! I know same ole message I don`t plan to stop anytime soon so don`t bother teling me too!!

so lets see, the school my mother works at teaches kids about 5-6 hours a day, and NOW the want to teach less? I was thinking of home schooling, now i believe it is going to be our choice, if schools can not teach and spend time worring about the stupid MEAs and the state thinks that the education that we have can afford to have less days they need to think again. we have college freshmen who have a hard time in the general educaton classes of math and english. giving less time for school will comprimize thier educations even more and make them struggle more in college. this is unfair for students, there must be other ways to save money. prehapse we can cut costs with our senators and others in congress, they are supposed to be there to serve us and it should be a privlege to be a senator.

"God forbid we cut any sports or let those few parents foot the bill!" Graybeard, did you ever consider that some parents can't afford the cost of bringing their kids to every game, or supporting them for an entire season? Besides, coaches don't make a lot of money, at least not in my region. (i.e. 600 for middle/elementary sports and 900 for high school sports [per season]). Most of the coaches around where I live coach in addition to their everyday jobs.

A shut down is ridiculous. Our children need to be in school MORE than they are. The majority of them are not being properly prepared to go to on to post-secondary educational institutions. We should be using the same schedule Great Britain uses.

OMG!!!!!!!!!To Infoman; Like so many people posted before me......Why in the world do you LIVE in Houlton if you hate it so much????? And if you can't move then SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY, I think everyone in the state of Maine now know how you feel about the people in Houlton. Most of your posts have absolutely nothing to do with the subject at hand anyway. Did it ever occur to you that the peole in Houlton have no use for you either????? And once again BDN will you please do something about this person.

Their are other costs these state governments are not thinking about when they do these shutdown days. In California they have found that the economy has taken a hit since the state government workers are all cutting back on extra expenditures that they would have otherwise made if their salaries hadn't been cut by 15% (or whatever it works out to due to the shutdown days). Even the day-cares are losing money since the children are just being watched by their parents.

If they shut down the schools then some parents will either have to take days off from work (read: lose money, less money spent for the Maine economy) or put their kids in day-cares (if available). The parents then lose that money but it might be off-set financially by the day-care owners and works making more money.

Its nice that the state is just shifting the burden back towards the people. Then they will throw their hands up in the air and wonder why the economy is not getting better as fast as they predicted.

Most of the comments on here are really good. One question I have, though, is why can private school teach our children MORE efficiently, and with LESS money???? The average cost per child for the public school in my area two years ago, was $8995...... Private school in our area: $3500. I chose to homeschool and yet I had to pay my fair share in taxes to the local school district AND buy my curriculum, pay for sports, private music lessons, etc., yet when I tried to get a laptop for my child to use, I was told no, even though the Governor (King at the time) said EVERY 8th grader in Maine would get one (gov.'s office told me I was an elitist because I was homeschooling and would not give me one or even let me purchase one at the discounted rates when I asked about that - - talk about discrimination!). (And, for the ones that say they cannot afford private/homeschooling.......some really may not be able to, but it most would be willing to change their lifestyle (ie reduce what they spend on cell phones, shopping, eating out, entertainment, etc) they may be surprised what they CAN afford).

So, why is it that we pay our taxes with a large portion going to the public schools where our kids are failing and now they want to cut school hours/days, and yet the costs of these public schools are so very much higher than the alternatives where our kids are ACTUALLY getting an education?

Does this mean that the required 180 days are being dismissed? If they shut down the schools it is taking away from the students. The state of Maine's education level is very low as it is. Why make it worse. They think that either they should take away from the students education or charge the parents more on their taxes. Either way they look at it they should be open for 180 days. Whether it is for 4 days a week or 5 days a week. The students are losing in the end. And they wonder why Maine is so stupid.

I say let the teachers do their job and teach. Most of the real money goes into administrations that endlessly change and try to recreate the culture at a school only to leave 2 years later so a new overpaid administrator can come in and "change" things. Teachers are forced to teach to these state tests leaving very little other time for educational opportunities in other subjects. What happened to the generations of us that weren't saddled with these tests...are we any dumber? The kids aren't failing, the teachers aren't failing....the system is failing as a whole. Don't think I don't lay the blame at the feet of parents as well. It is every parents' job to stay in touch with teachers and talk to the kids about school and encourage them to strive for a little bit better each time.

Luckily, when the schools are having their shut down days, the kids will have their shiney new laptops to play on.

To > INFOMAN, if it is try that your were in the SEALS then I say to the rest of you that he has earned his right to vent anyway he wants to. God Knows he has earned the right. Don`t think that there is anything being said on these post that should upset anyone that much. Let it go we all have bad days, years or lifetimes let him vent. We all are in away.

Ubadard, as a former teacher, I agree with you. There is way too much administration and that is where the money is, not the underpaid teacher. Many districts get grant money and create these positions that are sometimes beneficial and sometimes a waste, but hey, it's free money, right? Then when the grant money runs out, they keep these positions open at the taxpayer's expense. There are sooo many ways to save money without going to this extreme. Many districts can be consolidated, but don't leave it up to the superintendants who might be losing their jobs to try to sell this idea to the public. They will as they have paint a scary picture to discourage the idea. Start by shutting down some of these schools in unorganized territories like Sinclair, Maine which has a handful of students that can easily be absorbed by Fort Kent or St. Agatha. If they can attend their high school in these schools they can attend their primary education there as well. The traveling distance for these students would be less than most students in these districts.

I like this idea Gendron has. One reason is it will make a difference both at the Stae and Local levels. It will also keep programs and jobs instead of cutting them.

It's very simple, Cutt the biggest cost we have, teacher pay and beneits. The children have to be edacated. The teachers union will have to understand. Besides were will they find other work in this econamy. We will just have to change the liberil Gov. we have. before things will get better.

SAD22 just dropped about 60mill for a school to house 800 students...just a sec.....60 mill....divided by.....

huh.....7.5K per student....each year for the next 10 yrs...if enrollment stays up........in a time when the bottom is dropping out of school enrollment.......

nah....systems fine....... shut down the schools.....

I use private schools......at about $4k per year....for college prep........

maybe we might consider school choice?.....ooops....that will generate a report.....

The union controlled system is the biggest squander of taxpayer money. It's right in there with DHHS. Eliminate so called "in service training days" and use it to teach kids. Teachers are paid year round so they can use those days on summer vacation to keep up. I'm also tired of seeing teachers being the first to exit the school yard on theend of the day. They can put in an 8 or 9 hr day just like the rest of us have to. There is no reason for our schoolchildren to bear the burden of lacadasical teachers and administrators who are only interested in the paycheck. Another thing is let teachers make competitive bids on individual positions on an annual basis therefore making their willingness to teach obvious and not be ensured of continious employment regardless of perforlmance.

Blah Blah Blah...what is a day or two...shut 'em down save a few bucks. (and by the way Carolmike12 at 1:48 pm...you need to learn to spell :) here is a list of your mistakes: cut not cutt...benefits not beneits...educated not edacated...economy not econamy...liberal not liberil. Have a nice day :)

Have you ever walked in the shoes of a teacher? Ever spent a day teaching 20 kids? When do you think tests get graded and lessons planned....at home after school. Those are hours that don't get counted. How about parent teacher meetings, conferences.....the "in service training days" are something that I'm sure most teachers would like to do away with as they are days that could be spent teaching. So Timothy, what I want you to do is go down to your local school just before it opens, count the teachers that are leaving before the kids, point them out to administration and, as a taxpayer, ask why they are out early. Or are you demonizing a stero-type that makes it easier for you to make sense of everything? Teachers also train during the summer, many take classes to better their teaching. So on top of the 4 years of education they put themselves through there is continual need for their portfolios to be update in order to keep qualifications needed to teach. How do you want to guage a teacher's performance? Simply by the kids' that pass, well, easy enough.....all the kids will be given good grades and passed on. See the holes in that brillian idea?

electraglide many are jelious and far more have never served i would say anyone who questions wether someone was a SEAL that they have to come up with the proof that they were not. as for the sassinalton they are mad that they are indeed a perfect example of waste and if we iliminated the waste in the state just think how much better off we would be. In Houlton they think that only one side speeks and they only say the things that sound nice even though they are not. Its a big front up here and it goes on elsewheres but they think they have it down to a science here. You know why they hate those from away? because after one goes away or comes from away they know the real world and these guys could not hold a candle to beanhill for 30 seconds on the cornor and they would be done. THE ONLY EASY DAY WAS YESTURDAY! HOOYA

I think that people should remember that their child's education is not the sole responsibilty of the school systems. Many parents believe that it's up to the school to teach their child everything including the facts of life. It's time parents slow down a little bit and take their childs education in their own hands. It is the job of the school system to teach the chidren basic skills such as reading, writing, arithmatic, et cetera; however, as parents we need to be active in that. My kindergartener is very close to reading on his own and can solve simple math equations. That is not due to the school system, that is due to us as parents taking the time out of our busy schedules to work with him. My point being is school is a wonderful resource, a great jumping off point, but it shouldn't be the only component of a child's education. Keep that in mind when you are bashing our school systems and government. You gave life to these children now step up and help educate them.

theinfoman, if you are so unhappy with every aspect of Houlton, why don't you just move? Please stop shouting your posts, it's very rude.

prehapse informan does not know that caps are yelling, my mom didnt unitll i told her. we do all have an opinion and are allowed to state it. no matter what town we live in there is an aspect we dont like, maybe infoman likes the town just not the politics that go with it. we ALL need to contact our senators and let them know this is not going to be acceptable. maybe if enough of us pull our kids from school, and home school them the state will start to listen. i vote we demand to be compenstated if we homeschool, or send kids to private schools. I really dont want to home school, but if it's for the betterment of my children and thier future so be it!

amomsopinion I think CarolMike can spell I think they can't type.

I think schools should be closed much of the winter and open for class in the summer to save money or you parents can give up your tax shelter and put it towards the shelters education.

Great reporting again BDN....You were able to polarize the entire readership by only listing ONE of the dozens of ideas generated to save money!! Yes, sports were discussed; yes, transportation was discussed; yes, stupid laws that increase cost were discussed; etc. But why not just focus on one point??? Why wouldn't you try to dispell misinformation with correct info?? First, one blog referred to 180 days of school - wrong!! it has been 175 for years. Too much, "... money on administration..." 2.5% this year. Cut it all and it wouldn't amount to a hill of beans! Consolidation? Good idea but why did we exempt the very communities that were large enough to realize "economies of scale" and try to force small rural schools that are thirty and forty miles apart to consolidate? There is no place in Cumberland county where you are more than 10 miles from a county line or the deep blue sea yet almost every single existing school district is exempt by virtue of having more than 1250 students. So Portland, S. Portland, Westbrook, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Gorham or for that matter Bangor/Brewer, the Augusta/Waterville/Gardiner/Hallowell area were not asked to join up or were allowed to form districts too small to realize those "economies of scale"! By the same virtue, we "know" we need to cut DHHS & Education because it represents 80% of the problem yet we don't look to realize the economies where they are located! (Could be politically incorrect to do so!!)

Why is that in every mill closing, our Bald-headed-idiot (a loose translation from the Italian) mobilizes a huge task force to help displaced workers with of all things more education but heaven forbid that we should waste education on their kids!

I agree there is waste, but we can't seem to get our pea brains in Augusta working on the problem instead of just talking about it. Time to roll up the sleeves and get to the task at hand!

This whole thing makes me sick!!!!! And before you admonish me to vote my feelings or nothing will happen, I have in every election since the first year I was old enough to vote in 1970 - unfortunately being a conservative Republican in Maine doesn't get you much!!!

It's pretty sad that we have to sacrifice our future generations education to prolong this drug prohibition and housing of non-violent drug users in expensive prisons. Just think of all the salaries of all the drug agents sneaking around trying to control what people put in their own bodies; wasteful, just wasteful.

Note that this was a brainstorming session, nothing definite yet. I personally think it's a bad idea but I'd also hate to see program cuts. Also note the pervasive "study to the test". Presumably they're learning the material they need to know but maybe not. As I've posted elsewhere, quoting a relative of mine, "Every Child Left Behind". We're still seeing the fallout from that. Check out the staff list of just about any high school in the state. Note the number of special ed teachers, a necessity of mainstreaming many kids who should be educated privately.

The majority of what we have in our school is old, very old- old desks, old books, old paint. Technology comes from donations and sometimes grants. The salaries are adequate, but not high. Nobody wastes a dime, and there is plenty of pride. But we are not proud of Augusta. There is a collective head-shake at the programs and misdirected ventures that come out of the department of education. ...And so it happens again- furloughs for schools.. (By the way, Gendron's school consolidation is not saving a nickel, it was initiated to shift power over schools to Augusta.)

Gendron wastes money every day on new programs that go by the wayside after 5-6 years, and on programs that are for show and without tangible results or usefulness (PAAP). Millions are spent on these every year- but it is all process work- and no outcome. When results are due, the focus is shifted, and everyone forgets.

The laptops - nice but a luxury, millions in cost. The schools had already met the computer needs of students in other ways.

It is easy for Gendron to suggest that teachers, bus drivers, custodians, secretarial staff take the financial hit, because she is not a teacher. She doesn't work with children and students. She is simply an administrator with too much power, out of touch and destructive. She works, after-all, for Baldacci, another ruinous entity. Maine would be better served if the department of ed closed up shop, contracted itself out. -Then it would save money.

Have mercy, as I sit and read the comments here I cannot get over the poor use of grammar and spelling. This is one more reason not to cut the school week to 4 days. If our children are educated in the same way many of you were then this world is damned for ignorance and stupidity. My goodness you are using a computer and there is something called spell check and there is another program called “Microsoft Works Word Processor“, USE IT!!!

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HarryHSnyderIII, what exactly do you mean by this statement? The lazy woman's way out of a financial crunch she helped create.

There are too many students in "special education" programs. …So we asked to have our children born with learning disabilities, thank you for that comment. We parents with special needs children don’t feel bad enough already you had to open your big mouth and make us feel worse than we already do.

We're still buying laptops for students from families who could afford their own. … That’s funny I never recall getting any letters from my children’s school asking those parents that could purchase laptops to do so.

Children within a mile of school are being picked up by buses then we complain about obesity. …… Just what we need 4 and 5 year olds on the roads and streets walking to pre-school and etc. Bright idea, they can barely see over a car and you want them to walk to school. This is not the dark ages when you went to school. Do you realize all the various sizes of vehicles on the roads today? From ambulances to fire trucks to police cars to 18 wheelers. The farm equipment as well as the standard vehicles on the streets and roads. I used to tell my children when they were in elementary school, “the mind is a terrible thing to waste”. You might want to remember that.

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brandy brat ………….. I couldn’t agree with you more. There is a saying and that is, “it all starts at home”. As parents we’re to lay the foundation for our educators. Again this is one more reason children do not need to be having children

I was in junior high school when my oldest sister left home to go to college unsure of what she would major in like most students going to college today. She in the end majored in Elementary Education and then went on and furthered her education by getting her Masters degree. I can remember when I was working later on as I got older and going to visit her and her husband and she would bring home her work. I knew then her day didn’t end when she walked out the door of the school she taught in. There were papers to grade, lesson plans to prepare and have checked over by the principal. There is more to it than many folk realize. Many parents feel it’s up to the school to teach their children everything from reading, writing, arithmetic to manners and sex education. They seem to forget that we are our children’s first teacher. I read to my children even before they were born, I sang to them before they were born, I talked to them before they were born. It was my job to teach them right from wrong, not to play with matches, not to play in the street and etc; It’s sad many parents are shirking their responsibilities off on the school system.

My second child is due to graduate June 2010 and as I look back over the years they were taught by some of the finest teachers and one principal in particular in MSAD1. I would do whatever I could for my kids and the class from home. Only once or twice did I volunteer in the class. But I did a lot of other things and I had one teacher that taught both of my children in first grade tell me she would walk backwards from Caribou for me. That was because I was involved in my children’s education and I cared what went on in the class. We were by no means rich but I somehow managed with both kids to make some craft/treat for their classmates year after year through elementary school for each and every holiday. One parent even made me a wall hanging with all the handprints of my daughters classmates as a way of saying thank you. I still have that today tucked away for safe keeping. I didn’t want to be thanked I did those things because I was my children’s parent. I saw by example of what my mother did for myself and 7 siblings for school. I had a difficult time with my oldest child he had some learning disabilities and I was in contact all the time with teachers and the principal was awesome. He’d call me by my first name and say, Kerry, I know you want to know what has happened even though it’s been addressed here at school. That principal was very involved in the school, if you drove by the school on any given day he’d be out in the school playground making sure all was okay, I’d seen him countless times up on the snow mountain as the kids called it.

I have been pretty fortunate to have had some excellent teachers and class room aides educate my children over the years and I have them to thank for all they did despite them getting paid to do just that. There are many good teachers that go above and beyond what is required of them. I have even had teachers offer to stay after school was out to help tutor my kids if need be. I feel bad that have not had a good experience with some of the teachers who have taught your children.

This seems like a terrible idea! Students in other countries, such as Japan,etc. already spend a lot more time in school than students in this country. Find savings some other way.....not by shortening the time our kids have to get an education!

Kerry1963: You make a good point in your first paragraph at 5:09 PM!!

Funny, where are all the home-schooler's in this comment section ? Did I miss one ? I wonder what they have to say about this situation...

Oh, that's right; THEY'RE ALL TOO BUSY TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR OWN CHILDREN'S FUTURES TO BE BOTHERED ! ! !

Kerry1963 asks: "...what exactly do you mean by this statement? The lazy woman's way out of a financial crunch she helped create."

You begin this post by suggesting that people learn to use correct grammar and spelling, then you continue to ask me what I mean by what I wrote.

I looked over my post again, and found the words to be spelled correctly, and the grammar to be fairly good. So I'm left wondering why you want people to spell correctly, and use good grammar when you admit you don't understand people who do.

I also went back and read several of your other posts, and it is obvious that you don't think much of the people who write here.

In the "dark ages" when you suggest I grew up, I lived in New York City. The traffic there was considerably heavier there, then, then it is in Bangor today. I walked to school, first with my mother or father, then by the first grade by myself. I crossed all the big streets waiting for the light, and later went to Junior high, and high school on the Subway. You say you lived in New York, so you know what I'm talking about. This is still the way children get to school today down there.

It's tough for parents to allow their children to explore the horizons. It is far easier to teach them to be afraid of everything and everyone, and keep them wrapped in a cocoon. I'm so thankful I had parents who let me explore and taught me to be self-sufficient.

hey harrysynder this is a maine thingto atack spelling and such. the locals when thyecan not find a solid argument they resort to the spelling and grammer thing. Sad part is they mostly never finished school but the state reported them as passed because they said they would go back thats why we have a 25 percent plus drop out rate a real number. your job is to say your side and me mine as well as making sure i bust thier chops each and every time that back woods i hate taxes yet i don't pay any crowd sticks their heads out of a not hole in an lod rotted tree. You can train for this just by moving to Houlton. We don't charge to see our zoo.

HarrySnyder: I appreciated your comments. I could relate to what you wrote.....having grown up in southern Conn. We took public transportation as kids, walked,etc. I know it is a little bit different these days in such places, but one just needs to use some caution.....and get out and experience the world.

It's time to stop pointting fingers. We all are to blame for the way things are in this country,we all want more and more. Yet we are not willing to take any blame for the way our country is lets blame others. Lets get back to the basic ,our age group from the late 60's to know are to blame . We all got it back then ,sure it wasnt always great but we had teachers who cared, neighbors who cared police who cared . It wasnt about screwing someone over it was about working together . Everyone pulled together no more its all about greed now and dumb s--- .We have all played a part in the way this country is and only can we all change it . The right way not by being stuiped to all the grap on here. Everything in life is done by example . The medical its not Doctors alone its the others who make the meds the x-ray machines and so on . Just like no child left behind what happend to reading writting learning how to tell time. Thats not important anymore we have computers so why should they know how to write. Stop pointting fingers and look out for one in other . As long as we have some one to blame this will never stop. Jobs are gone because of greed ! People are homeless because of greed ! Its Time We All Grow Up And do whats right for our Children. Whats wrong with all of you have you forgotten how your Dad worked hard to raise you or your Mom who was always there . They managed to take care of us on small pay checks and when some else didnt have they were there for them . Iam proud of the times back then and the families who gave so much for us! So We could all screw it up and blame others. Do u really think the rich care ? Because they dont they have all of us Blue collar and low income people they make them rich every day . Because we buy into thier greed .Its time we all grow up .The comments on here are that of children . The blame games the hate the stupity of people. This is why we are all in trouble today . No respect but lot of mouth!

brandybrat and south texas don't worry about capitals and rude the govt been doing for years and your only complaining now. Where were you during the big spend from 2001-2009 never said a thing until now. You'll probably vote like many what can the politican get for me when they are supposed to be making sure that what we do give them is spent wisely not to say re-electme. Nothin is free and now you pay the piper. 30 kids in a class works, 15 superintendants state wide, school sports not paid for with taxpayers funds let all those tax exempt groups that use to do do it again. Thats giving back to the community that gives them a free ride. Or make them pay taxes like the rest of us and maybe we dont have a budget short fall. NOW THAT IS A REAL GREAT IDEA, DON'T YA THUNK.

Most of the above comments are from people who obviously did poorly in school (hence the spelling, grammatical, and logic errors) and have school phobia. There is also some sort of "egghead" phobia - resentment against the educated and those deserving much more pay -- not less. Wake up Mainers -- these are your children and our state's future. Many children come to school unwashed, unfed, and filled with ignorant ideas from uneducated parents. These same parents have no self-discipline and impose either erratic discipline upon their children -- or none. School is a haven of safety, organization, a place to get some physical and mental nourishment, for most children. Even with the mistaken emphasis upon standardized testing (which is not the teacher's choice - but a feeble holdover from the BUSH era), school offers our children both academic and lifeskills learniing opportunities every day they attend. It is ridiculous and hypocritical to balance the budget by robbing our schools. I suggest, however, reducing the operation of the Maine state office of education (an anachronistic, incompetent group of petty czars) to 3 days a week, fire Susan Gendron and hire a real educator with managerial skills, cut the top level of administrators in each district, and eliminate the SAT requirement for each Maine junior (which is very expensive). Add money to the vocational programs. I wish I could add -- make parents be responsible for their children - their care and feeding in a responsible manner. If we all took care of our children and stopped relying on the State for handouts that would immensely help our schools. Finally, the number of alcohol and drug-affected children in this state are multiplying exponentiallly -- this is horribly expensive, cruel, and selfish. I'd love to know how many of the writers above used substances while their children were in-utero.

The only substances I used while my children were in utero were Prenatal Vitamins or something for G.I. upset.

HarryHSnyderIII…………you have still yet to answer my question as to what you meant by this statement…………The lazy woman's way out of a financial crunch she helped create." It could be interpreted differently by anyone who might read it all I was asking for was clarification. I guess that is too much trouble or maybe I didn’t make myself clear in what I was asking.

Yes I grew up in New York City, Brooklyn to be exact and my parents cared and loved their children enough that their safety came first. Older siblings walked the younger ones to school and when we got older and went on to junior high school we rode a city bus over a mile, then when it came time for high school it was 2 buses and or 2 subways.

I wonder how your parents would have felt had you been struck by a city bus, garbage truck, ambulance or police car on a high speed chase. I wonder would they have patted themselves on the back and said, well no big deal we didn't want our 5 year old living in a cocoon as they laid you to rest.

I say dark ages because I will be 46 on the 23rd and never bought milk for .03c in my day.

My parents raised 8 children in new York City, the first 5 of my siblings were born here in Presque Isle. We were kept safe and out of unnecessary harms way and each and everyone from the youngest of 33 years to the oldest of 55 years are all self-sufficient all have families all have jobs. Some of us have had jobs that did not involve a college education and we made more than some teachers make.

I take it you are an educator and seems as though this new proposal is perfectly okay with you. Well then don’t moan and complain when it effects your pension, tenure and etc; when you are ready to retire because I am sure it will have some bearing on it.

This comment is the reason why we need for schools to remain open 5 days a week.

On 9/18/09 at 3:54 PM, theinfoman wrote : electraglide many are jelious and far more have never served i would say anyone who questions wether someone was a SEAL that they have to come up with the proof that they were not. as for the sassinalton they are mad that they are indeed a perfect example of waste and if we iliminated the waste in the state just think how much better off we would be. In Houlton they think that only one side speeks and they only say the things that sound nice even though they are not. Its a big front up here and it goes on elsewheres but they think they have it down to a science here. You know why they hate those from away? because after one goes away or comes from away they know the real world and these guys could not hold a candle to beanhill for 30 seconds on the cornor and they would be done. THE ONLY EASY DAY WAS YESTURDAY! HOOYA

Karruka: I , for one, think there should only be respect for education. Parents should be instilling these goals and educational aspirations in their kids, but as we know, sadly that is not always the case. I do not understand the so-called "egghead phobia" either. Education should be something to be admired.....including being able to write well. I also agree that the school administrations seem real bloated and often, inept ...that is where the cuts should be made or at least seriously considered.

Well, if this happens, I hope they make the school shutdown days the same days as the State shutdown days.

OMGoodness such long winded comments....I think what difference would "a couple" days make???Calll them a SNOW DAY! If they can SAVE $7 million statewide just by closing for ONE DAY...then just have a statewide long weekend once a month. (for one school year only to see how it works)

No SoFedUp, teachers are not considered state employees. They work for various local school districts. I am SoFedUp with people who don't know what they are talking about....

Sawbones...Yeah, like it's only Democrats...as if Republicans don't spend money...vote them in and Maine will probably invade some nearby nation.

Sunnyside: Oddly enough, Maine's mediocre student performance is far better than the dismal performance of most other states.

skyhawk: Yeah...homeschool EVERYONE...do you really think that is even close to a good idea???

LovetheBDN: It's not the public schools that don't work...It's the fact that they're bound with govt. foolishness to turn out perfect children while being sent screwed up kids sent by their screwed up parents...The school system was never designed to work with whackos and it's being forced to.

WatchdogME: Well, both the Brewer and Ellsworth schools were built to replace a total of 6 run down and inefficient schools which were bleeding money. They weren't just replacements of existing schools.

DebupNorth: Yeah, because 'confronting' people usually gets a positive response...not

Nonyabusiness: I'll answer your question...Private schools can do it for less because they can pick their students whereas public schools take whatever rolls in the door on any given day...Private schools can dump students who shouldn't be there while public schools can never get rid of the morons... private schools don't have to deal with mindless govt. intervention and mandates while public schools do.

carolmike12: stop posting.

Timothy: You are a moron. The system is not union controlled and never has been...as a matter of fact the teacher union in Maine is one of the weakest in the nation. oh...by the way...teachers get paid per day...a 185 day contract...they don't get paid to 'keep up' in the summer...that's why you can hire people with college degrees 30k and keep them at that salary for 4 years....may seem like big money to burger flippers like yourself but that's dirt in the real world...oh..here's a thought...if they're teaching your precious children at school, when do they correct your children's homework...AFTER SCHOOL WHEN THEY ARE HOME AND NOT GETTING PAID...shut up!!!!!

oh...and while we're at it...let's shut down the schools for twenty days and every parent out there can now run around frantically to find a place for their children...that should be fun...I think I'll open a franchise of 'school shutdown days daycare' and use some warehouse in the middle of the state as a holding tank for all the kids whose parents couldn't find some other sort of daycare alternative on those days...I'd make a mint.....

HarryHSnyderIII…………you have still yet to answer my question as to what you meant by this statement…………The lazy woman's way out of a financial crunch she helped create."Susan Gendron" Maine's commissioner of Education is a woman. My contention is that she is too lazy to get off her duff and find a better way to make cuts. it is easier to hit the employees in their wallet.

I am not "in education" you assume wrongly.

My family Lived on West 86th in Manhattan, then we moved to Brooklyn (Senator Street Bayridge) then to Westchester, before Dad brought us all back to Maine.

The time when I was growing up was the Renaissance. Today is "the dark ages"

Susan Gendron has wasted an enormous amount of money earmarked for education on her frivolous, misguided projects. She has also led educators and legislators down a destructive pathway. This is why we are facing financial issues in education. I have never found she is actually concerned about the children. Like Bush, she has focused on test scores and finger-pointing if schools didn't meet AYP (cutting monies to schools that do not meet AYP - how ludicrous/oxymoron). Gendron continues to show her lack of knowledge on educational needs and issues by posing furlough days for children/schools. As an educator I have found four-day weeks (due to holidays or workshops) to be very disruptive to learning. Let's ask Gendron to find research that supports a four-day school week and its impact on learning. Good luck with that Susan.

And Finchy - racists like you are what educators are working hard to avoid with our growing citizens. Your poisonous ideas do not help growth and change. Go back to school and learn to play nice!

Kerry1963, I don't think that YOU not remembering ever having paid 3 cents for a carton of milk in school has ANYTHING to do with how much Harry Snyder paid, nor does it have anything to do with the article. However, since you brought up the subject, my husband distinctly remembers paying 3 cents for a carton of milk in New Jersey. I remember paying 3 cents also (vaguely) but only for a year or so before it increased to 5 cents. I DO distincelt remember the milk producers strike in elementary school, and having to take in larger amounts of fruit in place of milk or other liquids.

Getting back to the main points of the article, the OBVIOUS problem is the state and school districts spending money BEFORE they get it! The state, and school districts to a great extent, say "oh, we SHOULD get in 10 million in fees, taxes, etc. this year, so..." (they spend 12 million). Then, when revenues are down because sales taxes and other fees are down because of the poor economy (or because people have quit smoking!) these same officials who spent over and above wonder "what happened?" Here is the best solution for all----stop spending money BEFORE you get it!!!!!

southtexaskate - I speak as a Home Schooler - the LAST thing I (and many of the other home schooling parents I know) want is what you said "....and home school them the state will start to listen. i vote we demand to be compenstated if we homeschool, or send kids to private schools. I really dont want to home school, but if it's for the betterment of my children and thier future so be it!"

If the state can't properly educate the children already in it's 'care', HOW can we expect them to educate the children we choose to home school? If the government (be it state or federal) were to give us finances to home school/private school, then we would also be told WHAT we have to teach, and be more regulated. While this might be a good thing in some aspects, this is one of my primary reasons for homeschooling - because I already feel that much of what is taught in the public schools is either unnecessary, or ill taught.

Also, these are our children. We chose to have them, to keep them, to raise them. The government didn't have these children. It is the parent's responsibility to ensure the child is well educated - be they home school or public/private schooled. The teacher teachers, guides, assigns homework. The PARENTS need to be ensuring homework is completed. The PARENTS need to be the ones to say 'hey, wait a minute...little Johnny is in 4th grade, and can't read well, or multiply - uh - we have a problem.' Too many parents are passing their children off in daycares/preschools/schools/after school programs/video games, or what have you, instead of taking an active part in their educations, lives, and friendships.

Now, as far as the shutdowns, I say no, simply because this appears to be a band aid fix. What happens in 10 years when there is again too much money spent? Cut a few more days of schooling? Children aren't being well educated in the time they are in school, so we cut down the amount of schooling they have? Makes no sense. There must be a more efficient and long term fix to this issue.

Is it possible to IMPEACH a Governor? OMgoodness, why why why Baldacci? You need to do the right thing and resign and instead of ruining the state further! Dirigo Health and now this??

An above commenter was right on the money...schools have become a daycare, nothing more. I've heard parents saying the same thing on the playground over and over, "Why should I teach my kid to (read/write/tie shoes, etc.)..it's the teachers' job." They toss the kids onto bus or drop them off at the playground and don't think another thing about it until 3:00. Kids get brought to school sick EVERY DAY, because mom or dad are too lazy to take them to the Dr. or to stay home with the kid. I hear a lot of moms who stay home all day say the same thing..."I'd go crazy if I had to be at home with the kid all day..thank God for school." Maybe they should have thought of this before having kids???

Teachers are overworked, underpaid and nothing more than glorified daycare workers. In my daughter's first grade class there are at least two little boys who are undiagnosed SOMETHING, and need at the very least a screening and/or medication. Their behavior, or lack thereof, takes all of the teachers time and energy and the other kids are left to wait around on their own. The parents don't care that little so and so is a holy terror and disrupts the entire school day, as long as they don't have to deal with them from 9 to 3.