Saco residents should get to vote on school bond

After several years of discussions followed with two years of monthly meetings that included numerous public surveys and workshops, the School Construction Committee presented the Saco School Board with two options for resolving our issues with Saco’s K-2 schools.

In a 5-to-2 vote in February, the School Board voted for the option of allowing the citizens of Saco to vote on either approving or rejecting a bond for $21 million to get K-2 students out of temporary trailers and into a new Young School, and to renovate the Fairfield School.

The timing for this vote was good, because many current bonds would soon be paid off, and the upcoming November election could produce a record-breaking voter turnout.

But at a City Council workshop last Monday, a majority of the Saco City Council reached a consensus to deny Saco citizens the right to this vote. They may formalize this decision at their June 6 council meeting, unless enough citizens demand otherwise.

In my opinion, the reasons given for their decision were not very persuasive. One insinuation was that the School Board had not considered the taxpayers in their decision.

To the contrary, the alternative option before the School Board was to bus our youngest students from their neighborhood schools to the outskirts of the city. This option would have cost an extra $6 million for a new 700-person facility, and probably millions more for road and other infrastructure upgrades to support such a facility in that area.

Another reason given for denying Saco citizens this vote was the slim chance that if Saco waits long enough, the Maine Department of Education could take pity on our students housed in trailers, and “may” pay for a new K-2 school.

Mayor Michaud stated that he could not recall when the state had ever funded a school construction in Saco. From what I’ve seen, such state funding only goes to municipalities that have suffered an economic setback.

Personally, I find it quite reprehensible to allow our youngest students to languish in their current condition for more years to come, hoping on the outside chance that the DOE may cover the City of Saco’s responsibility of providing our children with adequate schools.

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