Tuesday, January 30, 2007

In this formula there is not enough money to continue sports programs at their current level, nor enough to pay for all the programs that were implemented because of No Child Left Behind and Maine Learning Results. Approximately 80 percent of communities want to continue these programs at local expense. The communities make the final decision, not administrators.

It has been a huge learning curve for school boards and administration to understand the intricacies of the funding formula enough to cut taxes at the local level without compromising school programs and education. We have begun this process, and have already seen cost-saving changes. We have another two years before we reach maximum reimbursement from the state, and haven't seen all the cost savings yet. The governor hasn't given school units a chance to fully implement the present funding formula before embarking on another "solution" to reducing taxes.

I'm afraid if we accept his new proposal of reducing administrative units from 152 to 26 that education in the state of Maine will suffer irreparable damage and no amount of money will salvage what we lose.

Diane Brandt

China School Committee