Dear Editor:

There are two sides to every story, and each side has their extremists trying to persuade us to join their argument. Liberal or Conservative, some are not happy unless they are able to divide us, and drive a deeper wedge between us. Every now and again however, an issue comes to light that has the ability to bring people together, and it drives the extremists crazy. The issue right now is school consolidation. At first, I was all for consolidation. Our student population is shrinking. Our school administration costs are higher than many states with more school age children. Consolidation of the highest levels of administration seemed reasonable. Consolidating hundreds of payroll and purchasing departments for items like supplies, food and fuel looked like good common sense. So what happened? The Maine legislature happened. A good idea was spoiled. It went from soup to sewer in a matter of months.

The first misstep was by the Governor, who erroneously surmised that fewer school districts would always equal less money. You cannot start at the top with mandatory number of districts and work your way down. School districts are a function of distance, population, and community identity. Forcing one group together with another will not always work because the differences in the aforementioned functions are too vast. A smarter approach would have been to inform the districts that more schools would be sharing less superintendents, and give guidelines on possible administrative changes. More importantly, invest in common payroll, purchasing, and custodial departments wherever practical. Give the school districts a target to reduce their costs by, and let the creative, intelligent people in the communities brainstorm on how to get there. What kind of discount on fuel oil could have been obtained if each region of the state with hundreds of schools put their purchasing power together? Instead we have hundreds of legislators running around with their own consolidation bills, and their individual amendments, trying to put together one plan that works for everyone. Each legislator has a different idea on how much money you should pay toward educating children. The idea of consolidation is no longer about saving money. It is now about equalizing tax dollars. At least that is what I witnessed.

On Wednesday, December 12, I attended the latest legislative hearing on education. What I saw was saddening. Different school committee members from around the state who are part of the new Regional School District planning groups testified about how impossible a task it was to renegotiate dozens of contracts, work out cost discrepancies, bussing and distance issues… the list went on. Each time one problem seemed solvable, two more problems appeared. One legislator spoke about how coastal communities, (read "Rich communities") do not pay a high enough percent of their taxes, and should pay more to help out inland schools. It became clear that the idea of saving money was gone, and redistributing money was the emerging theme. Not one time did anyone mention the group most affected…the kids.

It is time we face the fact that school consolidation in its current, growing, morphing form is a complete disaster. Reminiscent of Dirigo Health, the Governor and Legislature (to save face) will patch, and "band-aid" the consolidation law and force it on the people of Maine. But no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it's still a pig! (Apologies to Ms. Piggy of Boothbay.) One person at the hearing said it best: When a corporation considers a merger or consolidation - due diligence at all levels is done. Finances are audited, reports are vetted, every rock is turned over to be certain that a multi-million dollar mistake isn't made, and that a profitable strategic partnership is struck. People in our government who may or may not be educators or businessmen are just throwing school consolidation together.

The worst-case scenario is frightening. There may be no cost savings…just higher taxes. Towns will lose control and ownership of their school to the new RSU. Teachers contracts worked out by the towns and the unions that were formerly agreed upon, get renegotiated and your property taxes go up. (If a teacher with X years experience in the town of Happydale makes $48,000 and a teacher with the same experience in Sunnydale makes $58,000…and the two school systems consolidate , you can't decrease the salaries, you have to raise them). Larger towns that vote to close a school due to its small size can out-maneuver small towns in the same RSU with few voters. A town with no debt may assume portions of debt it did not vote on, from a town with a new huge school. Does any of this sound like the truth that consolidation was intended to be? Whether you are liberal or conservative, a native or from away - find the repeal petition and sign it. We should be grateful that our consolidation committee has decided to take a wait and see approach. If school consolidation in its current form continues, our schools will languish for the next three to five years as locals try to deal with unintended consequences. As usual, the ones without a vote - the students - pay the greater price.

Adam Maguire

Southport