The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “groupthink” as a pattern of thought characterized by self-deception, forced manufacture of consent and conformity to group values and ethics. I bring this up because it describes, somewhat perfectly, the climate in Brunswick. Either you are on board with increased budget spending or you are seen as a curmudgeon. A luddite.

Groupthink can be a dangerous endeavor. One must bend their will to support the group, lest feel rejected. When someone gets out of line the group must rein them in.

After last week’s column, I was sent a copy of an email exchange between the School Department Superintendent and a concerned citizen. This citizen had been paying attention to the recent budget discussions and wanted to gain some clarity on several questions. The Superintendent answered the questions and closed the email with the following line, “I applaud your voice and participation. It would be much more accurate if you could check with Kelly or myself before writing articles for the paper. I respect your right to disagree but I’d like people to make up their minds based on accurate data…”

Hmm. Chew on that for a moment.

Only the School Department can provide accurate information? Only they can safeguard the numbers. I believe that the pop culture poet laureate, John Mayer, warned us against this with the line, “What you get is what you got, cause when they own the information, oh they can bend it all they want…”

Accurate data can be hard to come by sometimes. In fact, getting accurate data on the school budget for next year is very difficult. Scour the department’s web page and you will find plenty of information on past budgets. However, the usual hundred plus page detailed budget is nowhere to be seen as of Monday evening. What is easy to find is a thirty-one-page overview of the district. Graphs, pictures and information parlayed in such a way to force the manufacture of consent, ergo, groupthink.

That hundred-page budget used to make for some great reading. There was no flash, just substance. Oh well, it was good while it lasted. Based on the thirty-one pages of the condensed budget, here are some of the highlights.

Brunswick has a school population of roughly 2365 students spread across five schools. The listed teacher staffing levels for those five schools come in at 247.60 full time employee positions. That is nearly one teacher for every 10 students. I acknowledge that these numbers also include special education instructors, which typically have a lower per student ratio.

According to the overview there are an additional 116 full time employee positions that are classified as support. Facilities workers, administrators, special education support, even those on Federal Grants, they all make up the 116 employees.

There are also an additional 21 employees who make up the transportation services department. Bus drivers, mechanics and a secretary round out that department. Not to be outdone, there are nearly 20.5 full time employees in the food services department.

All told, according to the numbers contained in the budget briefing, there are about 400 individuals who are employed by the Brunswick School Department. When you account for wages, benefits, facilities and other costs associated to educate the 2365 students you are staring at more than $16,000 per student. This amount places us amongst the highest in the state.

Whether this money is coming from the State or it is coming from our property taxes it is still coming out of the same pockets. Yours and mine. Pay attention and try not to let this groupthink mentality swallow you up.

There is a great deal of studying to be done before the budget is put out to pasture. Whether you agree with the spending or would like to have it pared back somewhat, it is important to get a real accurate sense of what it is we are paying for in our schools.

It is important to question our leaders and administrators. In our system, they do their job and we question them. If we cede all of the power to them then we cannot hold them accountable. Then and only then will groupthink win.

That’s my two cents…

Jonathan Crimmins can be reached at j_ [email protected]