Predictions for Election Day!

Yes, we’ve heard that there’s an election going on down in the United States, but up here in Maine, we’ll be watching the school consolidation votes!

Those wily and nefarious conservatives over at As Maine Goes are running a thread soliciting predictions for the consolidation votes.

Here’s one for instance:

Here are my predictions:

DEFEATED (heavily)
MSAD 1 (Presque Isle) / MSAD 32 (Ashland) / Nashville Plt.
MSAD 9 (Farmington) / MSAD 58 (Kingfield) / Coplin Plt. / Highland Plt.

DEFEATED:
MSAD 21 (Dixfield ) / MSAD 43 (Rumford) / MSAD 39 (Buckfield) / Hanover
MSAD 37 (Harrington) / Jonesport / Beals / Beddington / Deblois

DEFEATED (narrowly)
Falmouth / MSAD 51(Cumberland)
Freeport / Pownal / Durham
Wiscasset / Alna / Chelsea / Palermo area
MSAD 47 (Oakland) / China

APPROVED (narrowly)
MSAD 5 (Rockland ) / MSAD 50 (Thomaston)
Windham / Raymond
Saco / OOB / Dayton

APPROVED (by substantial margin):
Poland / Minot / Mechanic Falls
MSAD 34 (Belfast) / MSAD 56 (Searsport)
Mt. Desert CSD (Bar Harbor ) / Trenton / islands

Here’s a link to the entire thread.

And from the post elsewhere on AMG where the prediction idea originated comes these interesting thoughts:

For each proposed plan that is voted down (14 out of 17 in November is my conservative prediction) the number of districts under the new plan will increase by at least one from the DOE map of 80. Units that have approved Alternative Plans will likely be “asked” to come back to the dance.

As an aside, the current words out of DOE related to the funding freeze for FY10 are now “curtailment” of current year funds and/or a “push” of subsidy payments from one month to the next.

Let’s see – November referendum on RSU’s, funding reductions, the consolidation repeal saga, and flat funding at best for FY10, not to mention any consolidation bills that may be introduced – can we predict a “perfect storm” in January?

It’s not too late for you to join and make your own predictions!

Update: Revised (10/24) MDOE list of plans: Approved, Partially Approved, Submiited, In Progress, Alternative, Unapproved, and Exempt