At one of the school board meetings in April when asked to make cuts to the 2014-15 budget, Corrie Perreault brought up a great suggestion of moving the BHS graduations back to the high school to save the Brunswick taxpayers money. Her suggestion was shot down big time even though it was a great way to save taxpayers money. Most Brunswick taxpayers are not aware of the fact that this year we paid nearly $21,000 for the three hours of graduation this year. Taxpayers can’t afford this luxury every year when money is tight! Brunswick taxpayers need to wake up and speak up!

I have also learned that the School Board has included in this next year’s school budget $34,000 or more to hold the 2015 Brunswick High graduation. That is highway robbery as far as I am concerned and it needs to stop. I am sure we have a school building large enough to accommodate everyone and between all the schools in town I am sure we have enough chairs for everyone to sit in instead of leasing them. I am sure there would be enough volunteers to move the chairs to where they would be needed and set up.

This next year senior class will be around 200-210 students and it is time we moved the graduations back to the school where they belong as it wouldn’t cost the taxpayers anything. I can think of better ways to spend my tax dollars.

Just think of it, the money paid for graduation would almost fund a teacher salary for one year, or another more important item like books, etc. I admire Corrie Perreault for coming up with a very good suggestion on ways to cut the next year budget. It is too bad that many School Board members can only think of ways to spend taxpayers money when many in town are just getting by from paycheck to paycheck.

I just wish that town taxpayers would pick up their phones and call their district school representative to say enough is enough, put the graduations back in the school where it belongs, and stop fleecing the homeowners here in town of money they don’t have.

Jean Powers
Brunswick

Editor’s Note: This letter has been edited to reflect that Brunswick High School paid nearly $21,000 for graduation ceremonies, which took place at Bowdoin College, this year. Bowdoin College did not charge the school district $21,000 for graduation, as was previously referenced in the letter. The changes have been made with approval of the letter’s author.