[Local-Maine-Schools] State per-pupil education costs (and today's BDN editorial)

[Brian Hubbell]

An editorial in today's Bangor Daily News, 'Stormy economic forecast'
(http://bangornews.com/news/t/viewpoints.aspx?articleid=160841),
suggests that the state's present inability to meet its commitments to
General Purpose Aid to education is a result of "inefficient
arrangements" in school structure that will require the firm hand of
consolidation from state legislators.

Readers who are tempted by that logic ought to consider the figures
tabulated below, which show the real dollar costs to the state for a
range of model school systems.

Then draw your own conclusions regarding any relation between types of
school 'arrangements' and where the state's education dollars go the
farthest.

-----------------------------

Per pupil cost to state's general fund of educating students in
various school systems (2006-2007):

Bangor: $4,109
Auburn: $4,669
SAD #4, Guilford: $4,963
Windham: $4,968
SAD #64, Corinth: $5,005
SAD #75, Topsham: $5,443
Sanford: $5,575
Lewiston: $5,653
Gorham: $5,662
Old Town: $5,664
SAD #22, Hampden: $5,737

Union 98, Cranberry Isles: $277
Union 37, Rangeley: $564
Union 96, Blue Hill: $587
Union 98, Mount Desert HS CSD: $806
Union 122, Westmanland: $806
Union 98, Bar Harbor: $855
Union 93, Castine: $1,003
Union 98, Frenchboro: $1,040
Union 98, Swan's Island: $1,282
Union 98, Tremont: $1,327
Union 98, Mount Desert: $1,384
Union 98, Southwest Harbor: $1,401

Source: Maine Department of Education:
"General Purpose Aid for Local based on the Enacted Budget"
http://mainegov-images.informe.org/education/data/eps/fy08/gpa11june2007sau.pdf