Mr. and Mrs. Buttarazzi, I just read your letter (“Parents react to choice vote,” July 2, page 13), and I too would like to get some things straight. You state that Kennebunk and Kennebunkport did not and do not want Arundel students. Frankly, I’m confused. I had several meetings with the SAD 71 superintendent at the time of negotiations. He told me then that the statement that Arundel students were not wanted was not true and Kennebunk was pursuing Arundel. When did you meet with him? Has Mr. Dolloff told you that RSU 21 does not want Arundel students? If not, as a former columnist, Mrs. Buttarazzi, I would think you would know better that to make such statements.

As a Kennebunk High School alumni from Arundel and a mother of two students who attend or have attended the school, I was unaware that you had students attending Kennebunk schools. How else could you make a statement that “the deep cultural bias against Arundel students...still exists”? I can assure you that in four years I never saw any pervasive bias, nor have my son (class of 2010) or sophomore daughter. Both of my children have a large, diverse group of friends at Kennebunk High School and were accepted readily.

Lastly, please don’t speak for me, or many others from Arundel, by saying we are being forced into a school where we don’t want to be. I am thrilled that my child’s test scores have increased substantially. I am thrilled with the many opportunities, academically, athletically, and socially the school has presented to my children. In fact, my youngest child is on the waiting list to attend Middle School of the Kennebunks. I don’t want to take away your choice. Please don’t try to take away mine.

 Debra Gorton

Arundel