To the Editor:

As a senior at Richmond High School, I attend a small school. In order to get accepted into competitive nursing programs in college, I felt I had to struggle to get the classes needed.

My high school offers about four Advanced Placement classes. It is extremely difficult for students in my school to compete for admittance in higher education.

This year, I attend the three high schools in my district: I attend Hall-Dale High School to take a dual English class and AP statistics. On the following day, after a class in Richmond, I travel to Monmouth Academy to take physics. I also take three online classes to maintain fulltime status.

I am doing all this for a high school education. This is before the governor’s proposed budget cuts to local schools. It is my understanding that the governor’s proposed cut is going to be $39 million to our public schools over the next two years.

Regional School Unit 2 is looking at a $600,000 budget cut this year. The impact to my school district would limit learning opportunities for students and make students less attractive to institutions of higher learning. We are already struggling just to “stay in the game.”

Maine citizens voted to fund local schools at 55 percent. With the governor’s proposed budget cut, the state may be paying about 45 percent.

We can make a difference by showing solidarity in support of our Maine public schools. I invite you to join me and about 100 others on Friday, April 12 at 9 a.m. at the Capitol in Augusta to participate in a peaceful statewide student-led march to oppose this administration’s severe cuts to public schools.

Lauren Umberhind
Richmond High School
Richmond