‘Resolve, Directing the Education Coordinating Committee To Establish a Work Group To Create a Seamless Workforce Development and Postsecondary Education Plan for the Sanford Region’

‘Sec. 1. Work group established. Resolved: That the Education Coordinating Committee established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 9 shall convene a work group, referred to in this resolve as "the work group," to create a seamless workforce development and secondary and postsecondary education plan for the Sanford region. The Education Coordinating Committee shall invite the participation of representatives from each of the entities the committee serves by law, as well as representatives from interested parties in the Sanford region and the State, to participate in the work group. Interested parties that may be invited to participate in the work group include but are not limited to York County Community College, the University of Southern Maine, school administrative units, career and technical education centers, regional economic development agencies and representatives of business and industry; and be it further

Sec. 2. Review. Resolved: That the work group shall, within the Education Coordinating Committee's existing resources, review the legal, fiscal and regulatory barriers to seamless workforce development and secondary and postsecondary education that need to be addressed in statutes and rules, such as those governing school construction, career and technical education and postsecondary education. The work group shall review previous initiatives proposed to create workforce development and secondary and postsecondary education plans for the Sanford region. The work group shall also consider the costs and benefits of establishing the Great Works School in Sanford as a campus of the Maine Community College System as a collaborative service model of workforce development and secondary and postsecondary education that:

1. Collaborates with other higher education entities and enters into partnerships with businesses and industry on workforce development, innovation, product development and marketing;

2. Supports a business incubator center in manufacturing, composites and advanced energy systems; and

3. Offers seamless transfer programs among associate degree programs, bachelor's degree programs and master's degree programs.

The work group shall also examine whether statutory or regulatory changes are needed to provide clarification of the collaborative service model; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Education and the President of the Maine Community College System shall jointly report the work group's findings and any recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by February 15, 2012, along with any statutory changes required to implement a seamless workforce development and secondary and postsecondary education plan for the Sanford region. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature to implement the recommendations of the work group.’