[Local-Maine-Schools] Letter to MDI Papers

[Skip Strong]

To the Editor:

As the parent of two elementary school children 
and a member of the Pemetic Elementary School 
Board I am deeply disturbed by the actions the 
Governor, Commissioner of Education and the 
Legislature are trying to take to hopefully 
reduce property taxes at the expense of the education of our children.

In Southwest Harbor we have a great school due 
largely to the voters of the town recognizing 
that good education costs money and they are 
willing to fund education at levels that greatly 
exceed what the state has determined the cost of 
education should be.  If the voters of the town 
did not support this high standard of education 
they could reduce the budget at the annual town 
meeting.  Within the last ten years they have 
exercised that right and reduced the budget at town meeting.

For the 05-06 school year the budget for Pemetic 
was $2,129.050.  Under EPS (Essential Programs 
and Services, what the state says we should be 
spending) we would have been allowed to spend 
$1,218,000, a difference of $911,050.  To look at 
just that number it would seem there would be a 
great savings to the taxpayers of Southwest 
Harbor, but let’s look at what these numbers would do to our school.

    * Teachers:  We would lose 3 teachers and 1 
ed tech outright.  In addition French instruction 
would be gone and art, music and Gym would go down to ½ time positions.
    * The principal, the leader of our school, 
would be a half time position along with guidance.
    * The school nurse and librarian would be in school only 1 day per week.
    * Extra curricular activities (sports, music, 
drama) would almost (current budget $70,000, EPS budget $5,000) disappear.
    * Maintenance to the buildings and grounds would essentially cease.

The consolidation plans currently before the 
legislature would not allow us to spend more 
money on our school if we chose to do so, nor do 
they allow us a direct vote on how and where to spend our money.

The final bill from the legislature may be out by 
the time you read this letter.  I urge you to 
attend a public information meeting sponsored by 
the Pemetic PTO on April 11th at 6:30 pm in the 
music room at Pemetic.  Superintendent of Union 
98, Rob Liebow will be there to present the bill 
and its impact on Union 98, and Principal Dianne 
Helprin will explain in further detail the effect on Pemetic.

Skip Strong
Southwest Harbor

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