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There's a lot of turmoil in education these days. President Trump's move earlier this week to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education could put hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for Maine schools at risk, adding strain to an already underfunded system.

The state and many municipalities — which provide the bulk of funding for schools — are also facing budget constraints; residents are increasingly rejecting school bonds and the tax hikes that come with them. Meanwhile, Maine is struggling to recruit and retain teachers, particularly in rural areas.

This week, education and workforce development reporter Kristian Moravec looks at proposals on the table this legislative session to address teacher shortage, from tuition assistance for early-career educators to making it easier and cheaper to reup certifications.

We've also got a look at legislation aimed at making it easier for housing cooperative to own mobile home parks, what's at stake with potential cuts to Medicaid, and how lawmakers are feeling about several bills aimed at bringing more nuclear power to the state.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy this last spring-like day before winter returns,

— Kate

Lawmakers aim to tackle the teacher shortage from multiple angles

Educators and lawmakers have varying priorities on how to address Maine’s dwindling teacher workforce, but many are united behind a multi-pronged approach.

Read this story by Kristian Moravec

Across Maine, residents are attempting to purchase their mobile home parks. A new bill would sweeten the deal for sellers: As the state grapples with a housing affordability crisis, advocates say housing cooperatives offer lower-income residents more stability. Read this story by Adrienne Washington

Potential MaineCare cuts threaten care for children, nursing home residents: “Maine’s healthcare infrastructure is teetering on the edge of real challenge right now. There’s no room to absorb additional costs.” Read this story by Rose Lundy

Lawmakers open to nuclear as clean energy, skeptical of “new nuclear”: Much of a legislative conversation centered around to what extent the state should be investing in emerging technologies. Read this story by Kate Cough

The Waitlist: Maine has a school infrastructure problem

(Published in 2019)

Half of Maine’s public school buildings have exceeded their life expectancy or have documented structural problems that require major renovation. But retiring and rebuilding a school can take a decade or longer.

Read this story by Samantha Hogan

Have feedback or a correction to send to Kate Cough? Send it to her directly via email: kate@themainemonitor.org. 

Know of a story that we should be digging into? Send it to our newsroom. 

The Maine Monitor is a publication of the Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit news organization. We believe news is a public good and keep our news free to access. We have no paywall and do not charge for our newsletters. If you value the reporting we do for Maine, please consider making a donation! We cannot do this reporting without your support.

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