By Stowell P. Watters

Staff Writer

In the face of declining enrollment rates in area elementary schools the Maine School Administrative District 71 (MSAD 71) Facilities Reorganization Committee (FRC) voted 10 to 2 against closing any schools. But that does not mean the MSAD 71 School Board is guaranteed to follow its recommendation.

“If the decision were to be made to close a school I think that should, in the end, come out of the school board – [the school board members] deal with the education aspect which is, in my mind, the heart of the issue,” said FRC Chairman Jim Smith.

The FRC will present the school board with their majority report at the end of the month as well as its minority report which sums up the statements of Smith and FRC member Ed Geoghan – that a school should be closed.

“The FRC has decided, in the majority, that no school should be closed – but we will still present our minority report so that the school board has all the facts,” Smith said.

According to Geoghan, ample evidence exists to support the closure of Consolidated School – the only school in Kennebunkport. Following more than five months of meetings to discuss whether a school should be closed, Geoghan said he is sure the declining enrollment rates, age of the building, “poor learning conditions” and a decline in the amount of births in Kennebunkport are enough to close Consolidated. 

“My purpose in bringing this issue out is to educate the people about what is happening with the schools. I don’t think they understand how these facilities are being used and how we are paying dearly,” Geoghan said. “We are not providing our children with the best atmosphere.”

 Geoghan cited a Consolidated’s enrollment of 224 children in 2003. That number dropped by 26 this year and is predicted to drop even lower by 2009. 

Additionally, Geoghan showed the 2000-2001 gross budget for all of the schools – Kennebunk High School, Sea Roads School, Kennebunk Elementary and Consolidated – as nearly $20 million for 2,670 students, totaling $7,500 per student.

The school budget proposed for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is approximately $30 million, according to Geoghan, for 2,244 students – approximately $13,300 per student.

“We are overlooking and neglecting the taxpayers,” Geoghan said.

Smith said he isn’t sure Consolidated is the right choice. He said the other elementary schools have extra space that, because of their enrollment rates, is left unused by staff and students.

“We have a shrinking district-wide enrollment and an overabundance of classrooms at the present time – but none of the classrooms is at Consolidated. Consolidated, frankly, is using their space very efficiently,” Smith said.

FRC member Karen Schlegel said the data is not concrete enough to warrant a school closure and, as space grows harder to find in southern Maine, she called it “a bad move” to give up what may some day be coveted space.

“Just because a school has 20 less kids doesn’t mean you can just shut it down. What if enrollment goes up next year?” Schlegel said. “It would have a negative impact on the community, these schools have way too much value in our community to be closed.”

But Geoghan and Smith both said they attribute this type of testimonial to emotion, and both said it ignores the basic facts.

“Consolidated is 50 years old, costs per students are going up and up – when will we say enough is enough?” Geoghan said.

During an October public input meeting, in which more than 150 residents of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport attended, Geoghan was one of the few people to speak in favor of closing a school. Nearly 30 residents spoke in favor of keeping all of the schools open.

“The classrooms are small, the kids feel special, we need our community schools,” said Sarah Lachance of Kennebunkport.

She said her family recently took in an exchange student who attends classes at Kennebunk High School and who is having a hard time adapting to the large class size there.

“She came home one day and told me that things weren’t going well, and that she felt like a nobody; a little fish in a big sea,” said Lachance.

Residents told the task force  they were concerned with the increased travel time closing down  schools would produce.

“A bus ride of 30 minutes means your child is spending eight whole days on the bus a year; 45 minutes and you are looking at 10 days,” said Kennebunk resident Dan Beard. “Travel time needs serious consideration.”

No decision will be made until after the school board reviews both reports, according to Chairman Maureen King.

“We are just waiting for their report, we don’t know how weak or strong either argument is until we look at all the facts. Then, and only then, will we be able to make a decision,” King said.

To contact Stowell P. Watters call 282-4337, ext. 219 or email news@kennebunkpost.com.