The proposal to consolidate school districts would dismantle the way public education is administered in Maine. On paper, regionalization sounds good and the money saved very impressive, but the massive impact it will have on education needs to be addressed by all citizens.

Regionalization would mean losing local control. Towns would no longer be in control of their own schools. School board members would be strangers. Small community schools have been the backbone of our towns where everyone knows each other and have a shared interest in how things are run. Being part of a large regional school district means losing that cohesive community feeling.

The commissioner of education, Susan Gendron, has said no schools will close because of regionalization. However, under Essential Programs and Services, if a school has classes of fewer than 17 students, state funding for that school would be reduced. Towns would be forced to go back to the taxpayers and ask for additional money or increase class size. If a school could not increase class size nor get additional money, it would be forced to close its school and bus students to other districts. We all know kids learn best in small classes. The impact on student learning is tremendous and quality of education is lost in large classes.

Saving money and cutting property taxes is one thing, but in a state where most of our schools are in rural areas, one size does not fit all.

Joan Thomas

Chairperson Union 44

Litchfield