Per an executive order signed by Gov. Janet Mills, the Governor’s Commission on School Construction will review school construction needs throughout the State of Maine, existing programs that address school facilities needs, and potential new approaches for increasing equity and overall impact. This will be the first such effort in more than 25 years.
Since 2019, the Mills Administration, in partnership with the Maine Legislature, has provided an unprecedented $580 million to finance the renovation and construction of Maine schools. Despite these record investments, the need for construction and renovation of public school facilities in the State has far outpaced available capacity. Additionally, in the years ahead, Maine’s aging school infrastructure is expected to require even more investment.
Maine students and educators deserve safe, healthy, comfortable, quiet, technology-friendly, functional buildings. The Commission will bring together state, municipal, and education leaders to provide a report with recommendations that outline school construction and renovation needs based on existing data and through input from stakeholders; provide analysis summarizing how other states fund and operate programs supporting public school facilities; and identify potential changes to current state law, rules, and policies controlling school construction.
The Commission will issue its report and identify potential solutions by mid-April of 2025. Members of the Commission include:
- Pender Makin, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Education
- Valerie Landry, Chair of the Commission
- Jenny Boyden, Associate Commissioner of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services
- Elaine Clark, Acting Director of the State Bureau of General Services
- Hollis Cobb, Tri-State Committee member of the Maine Association of School Business Officials
- Fern Desjardins, Chair of the Maine State Board of Education
- Art Dudley, President of Arthur C. Dudley Contractor-Builder Inc.
- Roy Gott, Member of the RSU 24 (Sullivan) School Board
- Chris Howell, Superintendent of RSU 14 (Windham)
- Anthony Jaccarino, Investment Officer for all of the Authorities, Maine Municipal Bond Bank
- Jane McCall, Superintendent of RSU 39 (Caribou)
- Justin Poirier, Member of the Maine Municipal Association
- Rhonda Sperrey, Superintendent of RSU 64 (Corinth)
Comments/Questions
You may submit comments or questions for the Commission to consider in the form below. Public input and questions will be summarized for Commission members at each meeting.
Meeting Schedule
- Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 from 1-3:30 p.m. (Room 103 A & B, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, ME 04330)
- Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 from 1-3:30 p.m. (Room 103 A & B, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, ME 04330)
- Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 from 1-3:30 p.m. (Room 103 A & B, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, ME 04330)
- Friday, Feb. 21, 2025 from 1-3:30 p.m. (Room 103 A & B, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, ME 04330)
- Friday, March 21, 2025 from 1-3:30 p.m. (Room 500, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, ME 04330)
- Friday, April 11, 2025 from 1-3:30 p.m. (Room 103 A & B, Cross Office Building, 111 Sewall Street, Augusta, ME 04330)
Two additional meetings may be scheduled at school locations (TBA).