31.11%	Yes
67.77%	No

Comment: Our chidren spending too much time at shcool already.They need to spend more time with their family. from Westbrook,Maine by Alexander

Comment: Make the school day longer and have fewer days. by Nick

Comment: This is a terrible idea! We as a society depend on children for our future. These are the future leaders of our country. If their education suffers, our future does as well. I cannot believe this option is even being considered! from China, ME by Beth

Comment: add a day for each of the hoildays they get off. that way its not all at once. so parents can get someone to watch their children for that one day from waldoboro by lynn

Comment: The USA is already behind many nations in education, and they are becoming a greater world power. I feel lengthening the school year would be in the best interast of all Americans. Investigating fraud in all areas of state funding would more than make up the difference. Thank You. from Dresden, Me. by James

Comment: if they include a provision to lengthen the school day by an hour-that's 5 hours a week which will be the equivalent to a day of learning. This will reduce the number of learning hours being lost. There won't be an additional cost since the students are already there. from Old Orchard Beach by Melissa

Comment: If you shortened the school year then who is going to pay for the kids to be babyset while the parents work?Some parents work while the kids are in school.If the parents can't work then who is going to support them? The tate sure won't... from Leeds/ME. by Diane

Comment: The U.S. is already lagging behind much of the developed world in the quality of education. Cutting learning time any further is a very bad idea. Let students help develop creative solutions to saving money in their own schools. It would teach problem solving skills while at the same time allowing them to be active participants in their own educational process. from Portland by Susan

Comment: ABSOLUTELY NOT!! our children are the future and the school day is already not meeting the needs of today's youth. Schools are asked to cover so much and there is not enough time in the school year to meet the standards for all children. The school day for kids neeeds to be longer, not shorter. We are using an archaic school schedule for kids. A longer school day with buses leaving later (ie late bus time) is when all kids should be going home. That would allow teachers time to work with students who need the extra time as well as provide time for students to engage in sports, music or art program to enrich their days. from Bowdoin by Doreen

Comment: Absolutly NOT. It's about time the State of Maine stopped wasting the money on foolishness and leave the school children alone. They need to be in school. Let the big wigs take a cut in pay for once and leave everything else alone. from Chelsea, Maine by Deborah

Comment: The schools have been hit hard enough already...and isn't the bulk of the school budget funded by the cities and towns who pay for them in their taxes??? from Old Orchard Beach by Patricia

Comment: That is the most stupid thing the legislature has come up with. They need to learn how to stop spending so much money instead of cutting school days. from Farmingdale by Diana

Comment: they've talked about extending the time for years because it would be better for the kids education. Now, all of a sudden let's cut the time!!! No way! You have cut the education system past the bare bones. Go dig up some money from the waste sites you've dumped it into for years. Try managing the money alittle better and our kids might stand a chance in this state!!!!!!! Get your priorities straight!!! from West Gardiner by Betty

Comment: from 1sept to last week in may from chesterville maine by paul

Comment: go year round from nobleboro, me by paula

Comment: No put a dollr tax on every bottle of beer A2 dollar tax on every bottle of wine and a 2 dollar tax on every bottle of alcohol to raise the money needed You did it on ciggarette for years now is the time to do it against drinkers Keep the children in school from gardiner by al

Comment: Yes, as long as the teachers would take that same day off without pay. Maybe the State Legislatures could cough up a day without pay also as the State Employees have been made to do. Since we are all public servants, seems fair to me. I bet that would save enough to balance the state budget and then some.. from Wiscasset by Louanne

Comment: I think this is so wrong! Why isn't the focus more on quality of education instead of quality of extracuricular activities? I have nothing against after school sports programs but these seem to be more important than education itself. from Woolwich by Alice

Comment: Cut sports, adult education programs that don't help get degrees to add to college credits. ids need more education in this state not less. from East Livermore , Maine by Gail

Comment: Absolutely NOT . . the children attend so few days now as it is what with teachers' workshops, etc..Our youth deserves equal if not better educational opportunities than our world competitors. from Waterville, ME by H

Comment: Our students are our future so why would we want to short change their education by shorting the days of there week. Education is very important most school systems mea's scores are low or below average shortening the school week would only make the score lower by lessening the teaching time the students would receive. from Lisbon Falls by Lisa

Comment: Taking into consideration the State of Maine's numerical position in education in the United States , we think more schooling is a must,,,not less! We would like to remail annonymous from Kennebunk, Maine by Gloria and Vince

Comment: If they really want to save money try cutting the outrageous salaries of the higher echelons. This is Maine and salaries are lower than national averages for everyone and government related positions should be no exception. from Portland by Sue

Comment: Maine already has a short school year. 180 days is the length of the school year in NJ, NY, CT. We should be doing at least that many.

Comment: First it would be the students that would loose out. They are our future and it is our responsiblity to teach them well. Second, where would the savings be when the teacher's contracts are set for the coming years at 175 days plus. Are we going to pay them for doing nothing? There must be other ways to save money with effecting the future of our communities, states and country. Think again with some thought as to what the trickle down effect would be and who would really be hurt. from Livermore Falls ME by J

Comment: State funded knitting classes??? Come on now! My child's education will be cut short so one can learn to knit??? from Saco by Kim

Comment: We should be cutting welfare instead of schools from Manchester,Me. by Dolores

Comment: Other Countries are way ahead of the US because their kids go longer than our kids.I think you chould cut the adult classes and GED instead. If Adults want to take a class let them pay for it on their own. from Livermore Falls, ME by Denise

Comment: I would love to have a shorter year. I think the kids are in school way too long. Maybe consider starting the day later, around 9:00 and getting out at 1:00. Kids are tired and not very focused at 6:30am which is when my daughter needs to be at the bus stop. It's ridiculous. I am all for it! from saco by Amy

Comment: Students loose some of what they have learned over summer vacation as it is now! Teachers spend weeks reviewing when school starts in the fall. from Leeds by Debbie

Comment: The amount of school days is 180. So how does the state think they could shorten it! Maybe if the schools consolidated as the Governer had told them they wouldn't have a short fall. Also if someone in the education department went to the Federal Government website there is money to be had. from Gray, ME by Valerie

Comment: As long as they pull the days off the schedule at the beginning of ea. year! School should never start in the "summer" (before Labor Day). I also think we can make the school day a little longer, which may help not risk our students' quality of education!! I think starting the school year after Labor Day would be very beneficial to our economy. This is, after all, a tourist state! This should be a rule nation wide! And the weather in June always leaves a lot to be desired!! (let the school year end later in June). from Portland by Mike

Comment: Between Holidays, teacher in service days, and "late start" kids really aren't in school long enough as it is. And, despite "No child left behind," there are still plenty of children left behind! If anything children would benefit from attending school longer. The idea of shortening the school year to save money is absolute lunacy. from Wiscasset by T

Comment: Absolutely not!! Our kids are far enough behind other countries already. Shortening the school year would only make that problem worse and it would creat more problems for the people who would need daycare. I say cut some athletic programs. It is time the school teach the kids that academics should always come before athletics. from Livermore Falls by Sheri

Comment: are kids are already ranked well below other states. I have an idea why doesnt thr govenor take a pay decrease or some furlow days from Casco. Maine by Scott

Comment: We have a short school year already. Stop high stake testing to save money instead. from Cumberland County by Mary

Comment: How much did they spend on the laptops that are going to the high school students this year???????!?!?!?!!!!!! from Winthrop,ME by A.

Comment: you got to think about the kids, and think of how they will react to the change of shorter school year. from windham by ed

Comment: I think the cost to society will be much greater if the school year is shortened. from Hollis,ME by Vida L.

Comment: What's next?? It is absolutely ridiculous. I sure could find other ways to make up the money, maybe they should ask the taxpayers!!! I bet after all of this is done, the same people that are voting to save money with the childrens schooling and safety, I bet their paychecks stay the same!!!! It's time for the people to speak up. This is crazy!! from Augusta, ME by Cathy

Comment: It would cut the stress on students in grades K-12. For me, High School was a nightmare (grade 10-11) from SACO, ME by Wilhelm Scream

Comment: I think it is a ridiculous idea. The children are our future. We need to give them the quality education that they deserve. Make your cuts elsewhere! from Scarborough by Lori

Comment: The educational system is a total failure. Teachers don't work are unethical, over paid and by any measure do a very poor job. from Kennebunkport ME by Rick

Comment: It would create further hardship for people who count on schools for child care. It would negatively impact already underpaid educators. It would put Miane kids at a disadvantage. It is best if kids are monitored, engaged in purposeful activity, and in an environment where they can learn appropriate social skills. from Standish by Ann Marie

Comment: Shorten School year means that our kids don't get the education they need. In turn, can't get a job. And not getting a job to get or hold might lead to a life of crime. Cutting GED Programs is wrong. Those that want a GED should be ale to get it. Its hard finding a job that takes GED. Now days it's even hard to get a job on a associates degree. Removing GED programs could also lead to a life of crime. from Windham by Carlos

Comment: Definately yes. If one day saves 7 million, then they should do one day a month for the school year. That will make up most of the deficit right there. I don't think that's going to hurt the kid's education one bit. from S. Berwick, ME by Cathy

Comment: no wonder the U.S. is so behind other countries when it comes to technology,education and such. from South Portland,Maine by Tammy

Comment: Why should my childs or any childs education be shortened because someone or multipole pepole can't budget the money correctly.Please do not forget our children are the future!!! from Lewiston by B

Comment: Education is the most important thing and should be to the state so that when the kids get older they have great jobs. from Gorham, ME by Beth

Comment: I find it disturbing that the State of Maine would rather affect the quality of our children's education then take a hard look at some of the unnecessary entitlement programs. from Harrison, ME by Tim

Comment: Cut the free GED program. Drop outs chose to end their education, why should they get a free ride. Cut all of the good stuff prisoners get too. They get a better deal than free law abiding citizens. from Randolph Maine by Theresa

Comment: reduce welfare benefits from lisbon falls me by peter

Comment: The Last week of the school year is a joke anyway. All the testing and grading is done,students just put their time in,because its required by law.As for the parents school is not a baby sitting business. from Westbrook,Me by Richard

Comment: Every one every where is feeling the crunch of 2009.so what ever it takes to keep Maine aflow should be done one day isnt gonna hurt parents so Yes I agree it should be shortened by a day. from Portland,me by Dee

Comment: If the state wants to save money it should limit the wages of elected officiall. Taking education away from children is not the way to do this. Children and education for them is the most important thing we will ever do. So people, "think" before you make a statement like shortening the school year and "taking" from our children. from Sanford Me. by Raymond

Comment: Absolutely not!!! If we expect American children to grow up well-educated and comptetitive globally we can't take away any more school days. Kids already a half a grade level of knowledge over the summer. I have heard many teachers complain about how short the school day is and that there isn't enough time to teach everything as it is. I shudder to think what would happen with even less school days! from New Gloucester, ME by Carrie