I’m a Lewiston resident, and although I don’t have a child in Lewiston Public Schools, I wanted to write in support of protecting the school budget in the face of proposed cuts.

I know most of us care about Lewiston’s children, but not everyone fully appreciates how much value schools hold as an investment in a city’s future. I realize budgets are tight, but any cost cutting that hurts children will eventually return to cost the community even more. Today’s students are our next business leaders, teachers, health care professionals and community leaders.

There would also be short-term impacts that would raise city costs — staff burnout and high turnover rates that waste resources and cause higher spending on subs. This is worse for the taxpayers, teachers and kids.

The school budget should not be sacrificed to balance the city budget. Costs should be cut equitably across the city, and save funds for the people with the greatest need.

I know that there are some cuts that could be made that would have less impact on students. Unfortunately, many of the positions that are proposed to be cut interact with students directly and daily, providing education, material and emotional support and guidance that affect children’s ability to arrive and thrive at school.

Kate Webber
Lewiston