To the editor:

I’m voting “no” on the School Administrative District 75 budget not because our schools are getting too much money, but because there is not enough money going to our schools. It has been troubling to see how far and extensive the cuts have been.

For example, at Mt. Ararat Middle School incoming sixth-graders will not benefit from some wonderful courses that teach innovation, critical thinking and understanding of other cultures. These are all crucial skills our children need to thrive in our global economy.

As my daughter went through the middle school these past three years, she could not take the same courses that were available to students just one year ahead of her, as those programs were trimmed from the options. For instance foreign language was not available when she entered the sixth grade, but it was the year before.

Art and tech ed were not available if a student was in band, but the courses were an option for students a year ahead of her. She missed out on social studies when she entered the seventh grade, after the district trimmed yet again and social studies was merged with language arts.

This year we learned the art program was being cut further, so that means my stepson will have fewer programs when he reaches the middle school.

The teachers and support staff at Mt. Ararat Middle School are amazing, and they have done so much with shrinking resources, but how much more can we afford to squeeze out of our schools?

You may say, yeah but these are frivolous programs. Not so, how many advanced innovations do we have today, because an artist imagined them or a mechanic invented them?

As mentioned before, these courses teach kids crucial skills and are lifelines for students who are visual and kinesthetic learners. And, sadly, these are not the only cuts. They are district-wide.

I agree with Superintendent Brad Smith’s comments noted in the May 30 report (“SAD 75 voters to consider $33.4M budget”) about the school budget meeting. The district has “cut too far, for too many years …” and we should “have a larger increase in the local contribution for education spending.”

Topsham just voted to increase the tax rate so that there are overnight EMTs to serve our elderly. Why can’t we increase our tax rate to serve our children, our future?

That is why I’m voting “no” on the SAD 75 budget.

Sharon Ross
Topsham