This is in response to the article about schools spending too much (Feb. 15).

Many people are blaming schools for overspending. Blame should be placed on state policies. Maine doesn’t provide adequate funding for public schools.

Maine is supposed to pay for a child’s education. To get around the cost of educating students, the state came up with a funding formula – Essential Programs and Services. The state provides a certain amount of money to schools and anything above that has to be paid for by communities.

The state provides inadequate funds.

Everything goes up in price, so how can the public expect the cost of educating our youngsters to go down?

For a child to have an adequate education, it needs to be paid for, and it should be paid for by the state the parents live in.

The consolidating movement is another example of the state trying, yet again, to get away with not paying its share of educating the children. The state will save money, but the consolidation costs will fall on the communities.

The public should not blame the schools for overspending. The blame is with the state for not providing for our children.

It costs money to educate children, and schools are always working with the bare minimum to save money for taxpayers. School budgets cannot be cut further, as it impacts the future.

Maine needs to step up and take responsibility to adequately fund education.

Laurie Pitcher, Lisbon Falls