LEEDS – After a short discussion on the Step-by-Step program at Turner Primary School, the SAD 52 school board voted against supporting the four-year educational program and agreed to dissolve it before the school year’s end.

Superintendent Thomas Hanson said the program was discontinued not for quality issues, but because of the lack of fairness to students.

“I agree with the importance of early childhood (education)” Hanson said. “But my understanding of public education is to provide opportunity for every child and the importance of providing equity to every child.” The board backed the superintendent with a vote of 7-2 to close the program, based on the limited enrollment the program could sustain.

This was not a good enough reason to close the program for Step-by-Step Director Betty Thibeault, who said the Department of Education wanted to make the program a statewide model. Of the board’s quick decision, she said she has “never seen anything move so fast in education as this has. Education is one of the slowest moving organizations but this moved really fast.”

To address the board’s concerns about fairness to all children in Turner, Leeds and Greene, Thibeault requested space in each school to help broaden the enrollment. The board disregarded her plea, stating that taxpayers should not have to pay for a service that every child may not get to participate in.

In opposition to that notion, one board member mentioned that the district funds Leavitt High School’s new varsity bowling team, one that is not offered to every student based on ability, then asked the board to compare the two decisions.

With tear-filled eyes, parents stressed the importance of the program, some even saying that a key factor of moving to Turner was the Step-by-Step program.

Larry and Lisa Roberts of Turner have one child in the program and two more on the waiting list. They said they love the progress their child has made in the program, which is why it is difficult for them to understand why the district voted to shut it.

“There is good day care out there, just not enough of it,” Lisa Roberts said. She said the superintendent “says he has a plan but nothing really has been said of it. We really don’t know what their plan is but if I have to drag all my children to day care in Lewiston I might just as well move back there.”

Hanson said his plan would serve the entire community better. “My plan is to put together a task force to review early childhood education to ensure that all of our students get off to the best possible start in school,” he said. “Many districts now offer half-day, preschool opportunities for all 4-year-old children, at no cost to parents. That is one of the options I want us to review. The mission of the district is opportunity for all.”

Another concern was what to do with the 61 children enrolled in the program. Board member Diana Morgan of Greene said that although she felt compassion for the parents, she believes it is not the responsibility of the board or the district to find places for their children. The majority of the board agreed with her when declining to second the motion asking the board to take on that task.

Could the program run independently from the district? Thibeault said it receives $76,000 from state and federal funds in addition to private donations. “However, it would be almost impossible trying to secure space to operate and pay for everything else. There is nothing we can really do right now.”