MAINE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS PRESENT SENATORS SNOWE AND COLLINS WITH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

BAR HARBOR, ME— Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins are pleased to have been chosen by the Maine School Superintendents Association (MSSA) to receive its “2006 Distinguished Service Award.”                “It is an honor to be recognized for distinguished service by an organization dedicated to serving and guiding Maine children,” Senator Snowe said.  “Maine’s school superintendents are truly the leaders of the state’s public education and their work should be commended.  Senator Collins and I strongly support the MSSA in all of their efforts and look forward to continuing that relationship.”               “I would like to thank the Maine School Superintendents Association for choosing Senator Snowe and me to receive this award,” said Senator Collins.  “Over the years, I have met with many of Maine’s superintendents and I have great admiration and respect for the work that they do on behalf of Maine’s schools and students.  I look forward to continuing to work with Maine’s superintendents on behalf of public education in Maine, and all of Maine’s students.”               The MSSA Distinguished Service Award is presented annually at the Commissioner’s Conference, and “its recipient must be a person who has made real, recognizable, and outstanding contributions in the field of education on the local, state, and/or national levels.  The person must be responsible for having promoted better education in the positions held.”                         Senators Snowe and Collins are consistent supporters of public education.  In April, they sponsored an amendment to the budget to increase funding for education and health programs by $7 billion.  Senators Snowe and Collins have also introduced the No Child Left Behind Flexibility and Improvements Act to help bring common sense reforms and greater flexibility to the requirements of No Child Left Behind.   ###