Note: This dispatch was revised on Oct. 6 to reflect a public hearing on Nov. 3 and an extension to the comment submission deadline.
The Maine DOE is proposing changes this fall to the rules regarding major capital school construction projects.
Rule Chapter 60, “New School Siting Approval,” governs State Board of Education action in the siting of new school construction projects that receive state funding. Much of the statutory language pertaining to Chapter 60 has been repealed and the remaining information is presently contained in Chapter 61, “Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects,” Section 7, Site Selection. The reason for this rulemaking proposal is to eliminate Chapter 60 in its entirety.
Rule Chapter 61, “Rules for Major Capital School Construction Projects,” defines the conditions under which the State will subsidize major capital school construction projects. It governs the expenditure of Maine taxpayers’ dollars in support of safe and effective schools that support the demands of 21st century education. The proposed amendments for Chapter 61 bring clarity and consistency to the rule language and bring the rules into compliance with recent statutory changes.
The proposed revisions to both rules are available here.
A public hearing will be held on Monday, Nov. 3 from 10:00 A.M. to noon in room 541 on the 5th Floor of the Burton Cross Office Building at 111 Sewall Street in Augusta.
Written comments may be submitted to the Department’s Director of School Facilities Scott Brown via email at scott.brown@maine.gov; by mail at 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0023; or via hand delivery to the 5th Floor of the Burton Cross Office Building at 111 Sewall Street in Augusta. The deadline for all comments is 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13.