Peering into the future now that Regional School Unit 16 voters have finally approved a trimmed-down budget, I hope that planning later this winter for next fiscal year will involve some members of the three towns’ budget committee members as, at least, interested observers. The school board needs all the advice it can get early on to avoid the arduous budget fight that dragged on from May into November this year.

As former chairman of the school board (business travel demands forced me to resign in September), it’s been gratifying to see democracy at work. We lost three straight votes by narrowing gaps, but won by a resounding 58-42 margin on the regular Election Day of Nov. 8, when a much larger sample of voters showed up.

The programs in our fine schools — particularly my favorite, prekindergarten — are intact, and we’re doing everything we can in these difficult times to “build a quality tomorrow,” a favorite slogan of former Elm Street Principal Mary Martin.

Also, thanks to the Mechanic Falls Town Council for not attacking the school budget. I appreciate the respectful and trusting relationship between school and municipal government that has characterized my home town for so many years.

Dave Griffiths, Mechanic Falls