Readers’ Forum

Kennebunk students urge ”˜Yes’ vote on renovations

We, as representatives of the student body, feel compelled to voice the opinion of many residing students and alumni of Kennebunk High School. After the failed attempt of the Capital Renovation Referendum in January of 2014, the upcoming vote on June 9 is vital for our community. Our high school is at risk of losing NEASC Accreditation. An unaccredited high school not only negatively impacts current students going through the college application process, but also deters potential residents from settling in Kennebunk.

It is no easy task to re-certify. The process could take upwards of a decade, potentially impacting students through the class of 2027. Some view the declining enrollment as justification for preventing the renovation. But, what will the incentive be to attend KHS if it remains in its current condition? Kennebunk High School is just as academically competitive as private schools in surrounding locations, though its interior and inability to meet safety regulations are no match in comparison to our peers. We do not lack the faculty, but the facilities, to support education.

Naysayers have previously voiced that “sensible cuts” must be made to “wish list items” that “can wait.” However, is a functioning sprinkler system a want? Or a heating system that hasn’t been updated since 1969? Or more than one handicap accessible bathroom? (There is currently one handicap accessible bathroom in the entire 156,500 square foot facility, which also acts as a storage room for educational movies and a television set!)

There is inadequate storage, seating, and parking for staff and students alike. There are nine portable classrooms that are literally decaying into the ground. There is an unequal distribution of heat, due to the repeated retrofitting of the space to meet academic needs. The current building was built in 1939 with additions in 1958 and 1983. Unfortunately we have placed band aids on broken bones for too long. There are 57 external doors and the most direct route between classes is to walk outside, across an active in/out driveway. We live in a different world, a world where safety concerns have increased. The fact that students must walk outside, requiring all 57 of the doors to be unlocked for access during passing times and lunch is unacceptable.

Both of us, along with the entire 2015 graduating class, have achieved some measure of academic success. Many have gained entrance into some of America’s top post-secondary institutions. Others are well prepared to enter the workforce. So frankly, this renovation will not be something that will affect our own high school education. However, we as current students feel that the state of our facility is embarrassing, and most certainly is not an accurate representation of the rigorous education that we have received.

Finally, is it too much to ask for a school that is safe, accessible and conducive to learning for all students? If that is a “want,” then a serious reevaluation of our communities’ priorities is in order. If there are any questions surrounding what some may believe to be “wants” please do not hesitate to ask either of us ”“ or any current student or alumni of KHS. It is not acceptable for the building itself to impede the learning of its students, though this is the unfortunate present reality. We have made excuses for far too long. The need is now. On June 9, we will be both proud and humbled to exercise our right and civic duty at the polls. We encourage you to join us and vote YES on the capital renovation projects. It’s time to show that the towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel value the health, safety and education of their youth.

Timothy Walsh &

Cara McCluskey

Kennebunk High School

Class of 2015

Biddeford Superintendent shares views on budget

Every spring a school committee-approved budget is presented to the Biddeford City Council for comment and revision. After several public hearings, the Council finalizes the Biddeford School Department’s budget. On June 11, the citizens of Biddeford will be provided an opportunity to vote on the school budget. This year’s budget reflects an overall local increase of 1.01 percent, all the while dealing with a decrease in state education subsidy of -3.24 percent. This vote will only be on the school’s portion of the budget, and not the municipality’s portion.

As any Biddeford citizen who follows the school’s budget process knows, the development of the school budget begins long before the city council vote. Departments that serve each of our six schools deliberate and submit their budgets to the Superintendent of Schools before the December holidays. Once the budget is compiled, the Superintendent of Schools and Business Manager review each and every line in the budget with the appropriate supervisor to ensure accuracy and relevance, assuring that each request is necessary, appropriate, and matches the mission of the school department. Over the course of the budget process the school department lost $331,277 in state subsidy reductions, and another $70,000 in last minute federal Title 1A reductions.

School funding is calculated on two main factors for a municipality: student enrollment and property valuation. This year, the state funding model increased the required mil rate from 8.10 percent to 8.48 percent. This large change in required mil decreased state subsidy by $331,277 while at the same time increased the required local tax share by $619,324 pushing greater burden for school funding to the local property owner and moving further away from the 55 percent state funding mandated by voter referendum several years ago. State law for the 2016-2017 budget cycle will force local school departments to raise the total amount of the required local share or face harsh subsidy reduction penalties that will compound with every reduction made. As a way to avoid a large one-year spike in taxes, the school committee is proposing to raise the required local share for the FY16 budget while placing funds into the Center of Technology to maintain and improve the building. These funds will be returned in the form of state subsidy funding at a rate 101.5 percent in future years.

The Biddeford School Department efficiently operates and funds the schools at a level that is significantly below the state’s Essentials Program and Services funding model, and the prosed budget would continue to be under the EPS funding model by $616,576.90. We are one of only a few communities in the state of Maine that operate a rate this significantly below the Essential Programs and Services model. More information and data about school funding and amounts over/under EPS can be located on the state website at: http://www.maine.gov/education/data/eps/epsmenu.htm.

Again, this year is an attempt to offset the loss of state revenue; meanwhile, the school department continues to build partnerships and shared service agreements with the communities of Dayton and Old Orchard Beach to help reduce costs to Biddeford tax payers. The Dayton School Department has voted to extend our relationship of shared services for three more years. These partnership over the four-year period will save Biddeford taxpayers over $600,000. We continue to work each day at finding innovative ways to partner with different organizations to both enhance the educational experience for students while decreasing costs for Biddeford citizens. I am very excited about some of the new partnerships we are finalizing and will be announcing this fall.

Throughout this budget process the school department has been extremely transparent about the items that are included in our budget, and the actions that were taken in order to reduce the budget to the current figure. We have posted all reductions and the detailed budget on the school department website at biddefordschooldepartment.org. The School Department Finance Committee reviewed each and every line of the budget for greater scrutiny.

Please take some time to learn as much as you can about the 2014-2015 School Department Budget. I am happy to answer any questions that you may have about the process, revenues, shared services, or any expenditures. With the major reduction in state subsidy, a change in EPS calculations that continues to shift the burden of education from the state to the local property owner, and a law that will mandate municipalities to raise the required local share, I am pleased that the school department can present a responsible budget of just over a one percent increase. The budget validation vote on June 11 is your opportunity to have input on the Biddeford School Department budget and the future educational programming for the children of Biddeford.

Jeremy Ray

Superintendent of Biddeford Schools

Support Harriman for Dayton Town Selectman

On Tuesday, June 9, you will be asked to vote for a new Town Selectman. Both candidates have a long history with the Town of Dayton. Jarod Harriman was born and raised in the town and has recently returned to our community to raise his family. Mildred Tuttle has been a resident of Dayton for many years and has served on many different committees over these last 12-plus years.

Following the candidates night on Monday, it is very clear that I will be supporting Jarod Harriman and I hope you will consider supporting him as well. He has a strong business sense and vision which is much needed for our small town operating on a fiscally strained budget. During the candidates night on Monday, June 1, the two candidates present were asked about their town vision and thoughts on the existing budget and tax impact to our residents. Jarod expressed his vision of bringing community activities to the town, several of these ideas included organizing 5k road races, outdoor concerts or July 4 events which would draw area townspeople to our community for the day therefore encouraging financial growth to our existing local business. Once the event is over our small community returns to its normal life. Monies raised from these events could be used towards reducing financial impacts in other areas of the town. Jarod spoke strongly about the need to tap into our State and Federal grant dollars such has farm to school lunch grants which would promote programs that could not only benefit and improve our school food program but also benefit our local farms. His opponent, Mildred Tuttle, was not as clear in her insights to improve our tax impacts and community although she did clearly state that as a small community there are a lot of things she’d like see done too however our current tax base could not support some of these changes. She did clearly state that she wants to see our reserve fund become fully funded as recommended by municipal regulations, again she did not recommend ways to increase these funds without impacting our local taxes. The most concerning comment that I heard was when she stated “as far as the taxes go, we will just need to bite the bullet and if we don’t like it then move to Kennebunk.”

Please vote responsibly. Our little town needs to be run like a business as it is a business that we pay into every October.

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