I am writing out of frustration and exasperation. All the budget cuts that have occurred on a state, county and local level are having a direct, negative impact on my family.
My daughter's elementary school has seen significant cuts in the programs offered. She used to have a "special" every day of the week. Not anymore. Now only three specials a week, and music is completely gone for her.
My son receives services through the Child Development Agency and with all the cuts and changes in that agency, he has been waiting for almost six weeks to get services that everyone, including the agency, agreed he needed in June.
For me, this delay is unacceptable.
I plan to express my frustration at the polls in November and hope others will join me in doing so. If we don't vote, the elected officials will think that we don't care what they are doing with our tax dollars.
I care. I am angry, and I will vote for change.
Jennifer Boenig, Mechanic Falls
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obama
This is what you all get for voting for Obama... I am appauled by the taking away foodstamps from the disabled. It would be different if the disabled could go out and work but they can't. I see a lot of them hurting by this action. Food is a necessity to survival!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.What are you talking about?
What are you talking about? What does Obama have to do with lowering the food stamp money in Maine. The cost of oil went down, so they took a little less away from food stamps. People who have to pay oil got the break by getting more food stamps when the price of oil was high, whether you bought oil or not if you went to Community Concepts to apply. Obama just gets the blame for everything! People really need to get a grip and stop blaming him. I think there are a lot of racists in this state and that's what the problem is. I have a family member who needs the food stamp program who is really disabled too Tabitha, but you are dead wrong, it's not Obama's fault and it makes you sound coo-coo.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Keep in mind, Jennifer, the
Keep in mind, Jennifer, the cuts you're lamenting now are being caused by the ruling party===DEMOCRATS. Keep voting for democrats and you'll keep getting more of the same. Don't buy into the scare tactics about LePage. It's a bunch of HOOEY!!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.If I were "President' and LePage told me to go to "Go to Hell?"
Like I'de want to grease the wheels of Federal Aid to Maine???
Sure, Paul, when LePigs can Fly.......
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.One of the problems it seems
One of the problems it seems you are hitting at reflects DHHS' change in section 65. Billing for services now comes in 15 minute intervals. Now, schools cannot pay full time clinical staff who may only be providing services a fraction of the day. Also, look into the investment made each year for a student receiving special services versus a normative student... I think it will shock you. In most cases, for what districts pay to place a student in a special setting, they could also send two aspiring students to college. It's not the football team or band that's sucking up the money.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Sorry, Mac - Football not Mandated; Spec Education Is....
While you may rue the cost of instructing a 'Special Needs' student - there is a mandate to do so, often accompanied by state and federal funding to assist in this. Though often these funds are reffered to as 'Free Money' by School Committtees and Superintendents (and I've been to plent of meeting to hear them) we know they're not. But sports are 'The Sacred Cow' of High School budgets. Want to scare the voters into rushing to vote a tax increase?? Simply hint that the sports program will be cut.
Some years ago the 'Industrial Arts' - or 'Shop' program in Boothbay was all but dead. An administrator wanted to clear out one of the spaces and put in a 'Weight Room' as he felt that's what the students wanted. All this going on while two local boatyards were hiring workers from out of state to build both metal and wooden/composite vessels. The students weren't being trained for local needs and the jock administrator thought only in terms of sports. You see where I'm going here. They put their money where they want to, or where it's mandated, and not necessarily where it's needed. Fortunately some clearer heads prevailed.
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Sorry about the multiples... internet glitch.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Well, at least you got your
Well, at least you got your point across. 0O:-)
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.One of the problems it seems
One of the problems it seems you are hitting at reflects DHHS' change in section 65. Billing for services now comes in 15 minute intervals. Now, schools cannot pay full time clinical staff who may only be providing services a fraction of the day. Also, look into the investment made each year for a student receiving special services versus a normative student... I think it will shock you. In most cases, for what districts pay to place a student in a special setting, they could also send two aspiring students to college. It's not the football team or band that's sucking up the money.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.One of the problems it seems
One of the problems it seems you are hitting at reflects DHHS' change in section 65. Billing for services now comes in 15 minute intervals. Now, schools cannot pay full time clinical staff who may only be providing services a fraction of the day. Also, look into the investment made each year for a student receiving special services versus a normative student... I think it will shock you. In most cases, for what districts pay to place a student in a special setting, they could also send two aspiring students to college. It's not the football team or band that's sucking up the money.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Beware if your vote in for
Beware if your vote in for LePage, sports will go, after school activities will go, special ed will be slashed to the bone, arts, music gone. You want the three r's??? A vote for LePage will give you that, and nothing else!
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Well arts and music are basically gone already, as far as sports
people will keep those, they always do regardless of who's in charge.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Typical democrat scare
Typical democrat scare tactics. Will LePage take away our Social Security benefits, too?
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Wrong
You will also get creationism at the expense of real science.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.I wouldn't vote Republican if
I wouldn't vote Republican if I wer you. They want less government meaning even more of these programs will be cut.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Maybe, but they might also
Maybe, but they might also lower taxes and balance the budget, which you KNOW the donkey show won't do.
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Would you like to respond? Login or create a new account. You'll need to verify your account before you can respond.Both parties MUST balance the budget.
Republicans will do it on the back of education.
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