Questions to consider re: Windham-Raymond redistricting

I thought since so many of the parents involved have voiced their strong opinions regarding the redistricting of RSU 14, I’d share mine – as a Windham taxpayer. I’m asking these questions as a Windham taxpayer – not as a school employee and not because I need an answer, but as another viewpoint.

The state is not giving our district any money for school additions or new buildings. If there is a referendum question to build an addition onto Windham Primary School, how much would that cost the citizens of Windham and how much would my taxes go up? I’m not likely to vote on something that will increase my taxes just because parents are upset about their children going to a different school in the district. Also, my current taxes in Windham are helping the district pay for the upkeep and running of the partially empty schools in Raymond. I’d rather my taxes don’t increase and the use of the current portion of my taxes that goes into the School District “account” be used for the effective use of the Raymond schools.

One question I have for those Windham parents who don’t want this change: If your job requires you to move to another state, will you request the new school your child attends to provide counseling because they have had to change schools?

Question 2 for those parents: Yes, your taxes are probably higher than others in Windham, but you chose to live where you are living. I don’t believe the value of your home will go down if you sell (which, by the way, are you planning to do? If not, why are you upset? If the value goes down, you’ll pay less in taxes.). A buyer will know from the beginning that their children will be going to Raymond schools. As long as you don’t put those schools down as inferior to Windham schools, you shouldn’t have a problem selling. And, FYI, parents…Raymond schools are just as good as those in Windham.

Question 3 for those parents: Have you ever stepped inside the Raymond schools? Have you ever talked to the staff? Are you basing your feelings on statistics? If you are, the numbers don’t always show the real learning that goes on.

Question 4 for those parents: You say your children will be separated from friends and that is traumatic. Has your child never made friends with a stranger? If you are still living in Windham, why wouldn’t your child still have Windham friends? When they have moved on to the next grade in Windham, they didn’t have the same classmates as the year before. Was that traumatic for them? Most of the Raymond students choose to go to Windham High School. Your child is actually fortunate – they will already know many of the Windham students, plus they will know the Raymond students.

Question 5 for those parents: If your child had to make a different change in their life – one that you “approved” of, but they didn’t – would you help your child through the change, or would you mirror their feelings and upset your entire family life? You are the parent(s) and the leaders in your family – your children look to you for direction and guidance.

I, too, feel badly for the children who will be changing schools. Not because they are changing schools, but because their parents are reacting so negatively and passing that reaction along to their children. If the parents were accepting, the children would be too – or at least not so upset.

These are questions my adult children and I have talked about at home. No, we are not affected by the proposed change, but if we were, we think we would be adult enough to help our children (grandchildren) through the process and make it a positive experience for them.

Joyce Logan,

Superintendent’s administrative assistant

Windham-Raymond RSU 14