Question 3 asks Maine voters whether they want to repeal the school district consolidation laws passed in 2007. These reforms are reorganizing school districts in Maine, streamlining the delivery of services and reducing the overall tax burden required to fund school administration.

We strongly urge the public to vote “no” on Question 3.

You might wonder how a school superintendent and ski resort director got together on this issue. The fact is Question 3 represents a major step in the wrong direction for Maine’s future — both in terms of what school districts need to do to prepare students, and what Maine taxpayers can afford.

Before the reforms were passed, Maine had 290 school districts. That is too many. The average Maine school district has only 734 students; the national average is 3,200. We are four times less efficient.

Not only that, Maine has lost almost 20 percent of its student population over the past 30 years.

Maintaining 290 school districts is too expensive. That has been studied over and over again. Every study has concluded that a modest consolidation of Maine school districts would save tens of millions of dollars every year.

We can’t afford 290 separate school districts.

Moreover, studies have shown that educational opportunities for students improve if school districts are consolidated.

By combining resources, expanded programs can be offered, and better access to those programs, especially in the high schools — exactly what Maine students need to be successful in post secondary school, in the work force and beyond.

That is precisely what has happened in Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland when those communities consolidated to form Regional School Unit 16. Music and art classes were revived. The gifted and talented program was expanded. Students in Mechanic Falls and Minot now can take foreign language classes — they never had that chance prior to consolidation.

Teachers in those schools now are able to share information and resources in a way that will fundamentally improve how our children are educated.

Why would we repeal those benefits?

Repeal will hurt our schools and jeopardize educational opportunities for our kids. If Question 3 passes, money would be taken from the classroom to pay for more administrative overhead.

And let’s not forget about Mr. and Mrs. Maine taxpayer. They pay for the educational system. That’s a heavy burden and it’s not going to get any easier in the coming years. Paying for unnecessary costs is not the best use of their money.

That is another reason why Question 3 needs to be defeated. Once implemented, school district consolidation will save taxpayers as much as $37 million every year, and hundreds of millions of dollars in the future. Those savings can go back into the classroom, towards better teacher pay, better roads or tax relief.

Why would we give that money away?

Finally, in just the brief period of time that school district consolidation laws have been in effect, the reforms already are producing results. 94 school districts have consolidated into 24 new more efficient regional school units. They are located in every corner of the state and include both rural and urban communities.

Eighty-five percent of all Maine students, over 160,000, are now in districts that are in compliance with the new law. Millions of dollars have been saved. Why would we undo that progress?

School district consolidation is working well for Maine. It’s saving taxpayers’ money, reducing waste and putting more money in the classroom. Repealing it will take us backward, and at the worst possible time.

We hope you will join us in voting ‘No’ on Question 3.

Dennis Duquette is superintendent of RSU 16, comprising Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland. Warren Cook is chief executive officer of Saddleback Mountain resort, and is an advisor to the No on Question 3 campaign.