Since the year 2000, our school district has experienced a decrease in the number of elementary students in each, and every, year for a total reduction since then of more than 420. The average number of students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade is about 150, enrollment at our new elementary school from grades kindergarten through grade three is 450 for a school with a capacity of 600, as these students, and those from Consolidated, move through the middle school, it means an enrollment of 450 for a school with a capacity of 760. Our high school, with an enrollment of more than 800 at present, will decrease to about 600 in the near future. The town planner for Kennebunk has indicated growth since 2000 has been largely condos, development conducive to retirees, births in the two towns has decreased from about 150 per year to an average of 110 in the past four years. With both private and public schools competing for these students, it only points to further decreases in enrollments. 

How has our school board and administration responded to these numbers? They have chosen to ignore these projections that have been evident for some time, refusing to consider closing a school, or make changes in the use of the facilities, or cut back on the number of teachers that is reflective of the reduction in students. How has this affected how well our children perform? One need only look at the MEA scores to realize that we are only average, just meeting standards. 

If we were to issue a report card to the school board, they would receive a failing grade, failure in planning and the ability to make appropriate change, wasting precious resources that cause the cost to operate our schools to increase at a rate faster than that of inflation, results that short-change both the taxpayer and more importantly our children’s education. Our opportunity to speak out on these issues can best be done at the school budget referendum. 

Please vote. 

Ed Geoghan

Kennebunk