I have spent 12 of the last 13 years serving on the Arundel school board and 14 months as part of the planning committee for RSU 21. It is through this experience and knowledge gained while being involved in this process that the current events surrounding the new RSU have me even more concerned than I was when I made my recommendation to not join with MSAD 71 (Kennebunk and Kennebunkport) based in large part to the history between our two districts.

The dismissal of an Arundel employee in a critical position with special education, by the RSU’s interim secretary, the increase in salary for MSAD 71 support staff without including the Arundel staff in the process what so ever. A total lack of respect for the Arundel teachers in regard to equal salary for equal work while MSAD 71 teachers lobby for higher pay.

Continued discussion regarding the possible buyout of the Thornton Academy Middle School contract, and worse off, the suggestion even being brought up to eliminate transportation to area high schools of choice, are an effort to force Arundel students to attend Kennebunk schools. Currently only five Arundel students are enrolled as sophomores at KHS and there will only be three incoming freshmen enrolled there.

Ten percent of Thornton Academy High School students are from Arundel. Conversely, 15 percent of high school age residents in the MSAD 71 district tuition out of their school district.

Enrollments at MSAD 71 are down by 79 students during the past two years, buildings there are running at far less than capacity, while employing fourteen teachers over the Department of Education recommended EPS number. MSAD 71 is desperate to fill seats and taking actions intended to force Arundel students to attend their schools is not out of the question.

The wonderful educational benefits that we kept hearing about have worked out to a half time foreign language teacher for Mildred L. Day School and absolutely no benefit for students enrolled in MSAD 71.

The only cut back in administration is the loss of Superintendent Alton Hadley from Arundel. Mr. Hadley has done an exceptional job serving the people of Arundel and it is very clear that the last open, honest, unbiased communication from school administration will be leaving with him. If this process continues everything positive about Arundel’s educational opportunities will be destroyed.

Take your blinders off, Arundel, history is currently repeating itself.

Jon Renell

Arundel