By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – “I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said it in the manner I said it,” Tina Vanasse said Tuesday.

Vanasse is the Edward Little math teacher under fire for comments she made about taxpayers at a March 15 Auburn School Committee meeting.

At that meeting she said, among other things: “How does a businessman with no educational background have the arrogance and audacity to stand before the superintendent and the School Committee and ask the questions that they’re asking tonight?”

On Tuesday during an interview with the Sun Journal, Vanasse said she “did not set a good example.” If she were to do it over, “I would do it differently.”

Vanasse is chairwoman of the math department at the high school. She is retiring in June after 29 years at Edward Little.

On March 15, Vanasse said she spoke the way she did because she was frustrated with how taxpayers were asking budget questions of Auburn School Superintendent Barbara Eretzian and School Committee members. Taxpayers asked questions, but as officials tried to answer they interrupted.

Asking a question, then not listening, is rude, Vanasse said. “If you’ve asked a question, have the courtesy and respect for another human being to listen to the answer. That wasn’t being done.”

Also Auburn taxpayer

Vanasse said she understands concerns about high taxes. She, too, is an Auburn taxpayer.

Teachers don’t look down on people who do not have formal educations, Vanasse said. Vanasse said she can apologize for the way she said what she said, “and I will.” She said she did not use the word “ignorant” to insult individuals. She was saying there was “ignorance of educational needs and the educational process. That is different than saying someone is ignorant.”

She said the quote in the March 16 Sun Journal wasn’t exactly what she said. However, a review of a video of the meeting shows Vanasse was quoted accurately.

The video shows Vanasse turned to the audience, away from the School Committee, after taking the microphone out of its stand. She said she was having difficulty listening to questions being raised, and defended school spending, teachers and administrators.

She said she’s saved taxpayers thousands by getting grants.

“Yet Mr. (assistant superintendent Tom) Morrill had to call me at home because a certain person wanted to know what a $2,000 item was I asked to have purchased last year for our students,” she said March 15. “I resent with my expertise and my experience that someone is questioning something I presented to my principal and superintendent and they have OK’d. What background do you have to do that? You’re asking this woman questions that are absolutely ridiculous!”

Vanasse encouraged young parents “to stand up and shut these people up!”

She ended by saying Auburn children are being well educated. “Please, for the love of God, don’t listen to these people, to the questioning this superintendent and this School Committee about the budget. They know what they’re talking about.”

When asked Tuesday if she was disciplined for her comments, Vanasse said Eretzian talked to her about the language “and my delivery.” Except for letters to the editor, she’s only received one e-mail and one letter where the writers were unhappy with her. She’s received notes of thanks for speaking out.

She spoke with the faculty. “I said, We need to speak up, but use a little more finesse and a little less Vanasse.'”

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