AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons broke his silence on Tuesday on Gov. Paul LePage’s call Friday for his ouster, rebutting the governor’s assertion that progress has not been made on two important projects.
“Gov. LePage has made known his desire for a change in leadership at the Maine community colleges,” said Fitzsimmons in a written statement Tuesday afternoon. “He has also called for flat funding of the [Maine Community College System] budget, while increasing the University of Maine System and Maine Maritime Academy. … Because I report to the [Maine Community College System] board of trustees, I have approached the board leadership to discuss the governor’s concerns, actions and the implications they hold for the system.”
LePage first said he wanted Fitzsimmons fired Friday afternoon while presenting details of his two-year budget proposal, citing a lack of progress Fitzsimmons has made on various initiatives. Those included making it easier for students to transfer their credits between a community college and the university system and continuing a bridge-year program that allowed high school students to earn college credits.
LePage, who appeared Tuesday afternoon at an agricultural trade show at the Augusta Civic Center, reiterated his concerns about Fitzsimmons.
“I can’t fire him. I’m just asking the [community college] board to pay attention,” said LePage. “Nothing’s happened in the last four years. We need aggressive management of the system.”
Fitzsimmons said hundreds of hours of staff and administrative time have been spent on credit transferability and that progress is being made. He also said the reason the pilot bridge-year program, a signature LePage initiative, wasn’t continued can be attributed directly to the $400,000 price tag.
“With tight budgets, we could not identify a way clear to expanding these offerings without additional state resources,” said Fitzsimmons, who said he shared information about the two initiatives with LePage’s office on Monday.
“With a workgroup coming together to review the funding model for all dual enrollment courses in the state, our colleges have agreed to participate in the bridge program going forward,” Fitzsimmons said. “I remain committed to working to expand access to quality higher education and to help improve the state’s economy and expand opportunity.”
In interviews with the Portland Press Herald on Tuesday, some members of the board of trustees expressed support for Fitzsimmons. At least one of the 13 voting members on the board of trustees said LePage should have addressed his concerns directly to them rather than as an off-the-cuff remark in a media briefing on his budget.
“If the governor has an issue with the board of trustees, he should make an attempt to come and talk to the board of trustees,” Chris McCormick, CEO of L.L. Bean and a trustee, told a reporter. “To my knowledge, that hasn’t happened.”
Fitzsimmons also has asked for a meeting with LePage, which the governor said Tuesday has not happened.
“I’ll meet with him if he wants to meet with me, but it’s not going to change me,” said LePage. “It’s taken me four years to get to this point, and I’m not going backwards.”
