Investment in educational programs is justified.

As Regional School Unit 16 school board members, our primary responsibility is to oversee the education of the children in our communities.

Our per-pupil cost for 2009-10 was $8,640.60, which is 10 percent less than the state average of $9,631.72 (www.maine.gov/education/data/ppcosts/ppcosts.htm).

We have made many cuts in the past five years, including reduced music instruction, only one foreign language beginning in the ninth grade, and reduction in custodians, ed techs, kitchen staff, teachers and administrators.

At the same time, we have instituted many positive changes, including the D-Path alternative program at Poland Regional High School and the consolidation of our middle school students; both changes have been extremely successful.

This budget maintains current programming and the following new positions: a sixth-grade teacher at Elm Street School because of increased class size, three special ed positions to meet required teacher-student ratios, and a pre-K teacher at the Minot school to meet expanded program enrollment, which the state is promoting by reimbursing us at a higher rate than K-12 students.

Since consolidation, we have been working on bringing pay scales into alignment. One of our consolidation goals is to equalize pay for staff; for example, an individual in an equivalent position with 10 years of experience receives the same salary in all three towns.

We have employee contracts in effect that will expire at the end of the 2011-12 school year; these contracts include custodians, support staff and school administrators. All of these contracts brought these employee groups into alignment, so that the individuals covered within these groups are receiving equal pay and benefits. We also look at the pay scales of surrounding schools, to make sure that we could remain competitive to retain quality staff for our educational programs.

We continue to ask for more from our staff, and want to make sure we continue to provide them with the opportunity to do the great work they are doing for our students. Please keep in mind that these staff members, many of them friends and neighbors, took four unpaid furlough days two years ago. Those savings are reflected in this year’s budget.

The teachers had still been under the contracts of the three individual towns; these contracts expire at the end of 2011-12; a new RSU-wide contract is in negotiations.

The school board voted to recommend the same budget of $17.85 million because we do not feel we can make further reductions without affecting our educational system.

Many concerns have been raised about the potential increases for next year. We are well-aware of the challenge that we face, and will be looking to find ways to meet the difference, such as the change in the health-insurance law.

The school committee realizes times are difficult, but that is all the more justification for investment in our educational programs, to prepare our children to become contributing community members. We have been listening, and taking all comments to heart in the decision-making process.

Citizens of Poland, Mechanic Falls and Minot need to approve this budget because it is what we need to maintain a professional, caring educational system for our children.

Mary Ella Jones of Poland is chairwoman of the RSU 16 Board of Directors.