PRESIDENT
A. PRATT
MSAD #53
PHILLIPS 04966

PRESIDENT-ELECT
STEVEN W. BAILEY
A03 #93
DAMARISCOTTA 04543

VICE PRESIDENT
EETSY M. WEBB
BANGOR SCHOOL DEPT.
BANGOR 04401

SECRETARY
PATRICK. M. MANUEL
R811 

BATH 04530

PAST PRESIDENT
SUZW T. GODIN
NORTH YARMOUTH 04097

M. TOMASZEWSKI
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  

Maine School Superintendents Association

49 cosmomrv DRIVE
AUGUSTA 043 30
(207) 522-3473
(300) 650?3434

 

June 30, 2016

The Honorable Gov. Paul LePage
Of?ce of the Governor

1 State House Station

Augusta, ME 043330001

RE: Appointment of a permanent Commissioner of Education
Dear Governor LcPage,

We are writing to express our cencern regarding the lack of clarity surrounding leader-
ship at the Department of Education. As school leaders, we depend on the department
in our day-to-day operations and look to it for guidance on critical issues from
statewide assessments to implementation of the new federal Every Student Succeeds
Act.

Our concern stems not only from the lack of stability in the commissioner?s office in
recent years, but the disruption it causes among DOE staff, Whom we rely on for infor?
mation and guidance-

School districts and the DOE must work together when it comes to required data re?
porting; compliance with state and federal rules; distribution of General Purpose Aid;
student transfer requests; compliance with special education law; Medicaid reimburse?
ment; and so much more.

The department also has an important role to play in giving ongoing support in areas
critical to our students. Many of those areas were touched upon at the recent Commis-
sioner?s Conference, including how to help schools improve their academic perfor-
mance, implementation of project-based learning, and the undeniable link between
poverty and student outcomes. Now we need action.

The Honorable Gov. Paul LePage
Page Two

June 30, 2016

We urge you to exercise your leadership and outline the process and quali?cations you envisiOn for finally
naming a permanent commissioner. The uncertainty around that position has diminished its stature and also
created instability among DOE staff. It has been an ongoing problem since the end of 2014, and our concern is
it will continue for the remaining twomand~half years of your second term.

School administrators, and their boards, need a wellwrun DOE to effectively run their schools and provide the
best education possible for our students. We believe restoring that relationship is essential.

Sincerely,

Susan Pratt Steven Bailey
MSSA President MSSA President?Elect

cc: Acting Deputy Commissioner William Beards1ey
Aaron Chadbourne, senior policy adviser