They Got Theirs!

A gloating piece ("New law is victory for MDI schools") in the Bar Harbor Times gives us a glimpse into the deal-making around efforts to revise the reorganization law in the waning days of the recently-adjourned legislature. (Did this legislature ever wax?)

The article -- in an approving manner -- details the back-and-forth between the Governor, the Commissioner*, the MDI RPC, and Richard Spencer of Drummond, Woodsum in crafting a deal that would give Union 98 special rights (my phrase!) in the future. The writer, Dick Broom, is confident that MDI has a sure thing, that is, that they will be able to get approval for their present arrangements, though under another name. By the way, you, the taxpayer, footed the bill for Spencer. Nice touch, that!

We're a little cautious here at Voters about any such deal holding. But if it does, then in the process of getting theirs, the good folks of MDI have put greater powers into the hands of the Department of Education and the Commish*, namely that of issuing "waivers." (We'll let you know the criteria for such waivers when we find out.)

Experienced readers of Voters know that this is where we cue the music. Yes, we've used it before, we know, but there are just so many situations where this verse is just so appropriate, don't you think?

There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's throne
-People Get Ready, Curtis Mayfield

*Hereafter, "the Commish", just to give her title the sort of back-room, gangster-movie overtones that it now deserves!