The superintendent of SAD 43, Danny Michaud, recommended the closer of the Virginia Elementary School to save money (Feb. 4).
The savings comes from work needed to keep the school open. Replacing old boilers, asbestos removal and maintenance of a building that is 50 years old. The cost of the staff in the building for 117 children could be better utilized in the other schools, with maybe a few layoffs. This total cost could be a savings of $250,000 or more.
The state of Maine funding for education is based on the money available from taxes and the federal government. The economy in this state has been poor for the last few years and doesn’t look much brighter in the near future. As we read the daily newspapers, they report mill closings weekly around the state.
We are fortunate for now; we have the paper mill here to help our tax base. We should consider both, the homeowner and our industry, when preparing school and town budgets.
The young people graduating from local schools and colleges are leaving the state for better paying jobs and out of overtaxation. The good times are over and we should reduce government spending.
The taxpayers in the towns of SAD 43 can change the vote by the school board on the Virginia Elementary School by voting down the SAD 43 budget.
Richard Austin Mc Innis, Rumford
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