Last week, I received a poll regarding Portland’s mayoral election. It started with the usual questions regarding the likelihood of my voting but then delved into several misleading statements attributing various accomplishments to our current mayor.

One credited Mayor Michael Brennan with securing $20 million in state funding for three new elementary schools in Portland.

To set the record straight, the current major capital construction funding priority list was created by the Maine Department of Education in 2010.

Hall School was rated 12th, with Longfellow 18th and Reiche 21st on the statewide list. It’s the sort of list you don’t want your child’s school to score highly on, because it means the building they learn in every day is severely outdated.

Our mayor didn’t take office until December 2011, after the priority list was published, but even a fire at Hall School in September 2012 didn’t spur action to locally fund the improvements.

While the poll said the $20 million in funds was for three elementary schools, the estimated cost of renovating Portland’s five elementary schools is $70 million, with over $20 million for the replacement of Hall.

It’s not the first time a poll or politics have caused me to raise my brow suspiciously, but in a town where it seems everyone knows your name, we can do better.

It might also hint at one of the reasons seven of nine school board members are publicly backing challenger Ethan Strimling.

Tracie Reed

Portland

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