Parents of young children in Saco have waited some 20 years for new school buildings to replace Young and Fairfield schools (“Proponents of building two new schools eye referendum,” March 9), and now that the preliminary process has finally begun in collaboration with the state, a groundswell of broad public input from citizens is critically needed.

At the recent school construction meeting on March 2 at Saco Middle School, I counted approximately 21 attendees, excluding school officials and consultants. It was a disappointing turnout, despite automated calls having been placed to all K-8 parents in the district.

At the close of the meeting, school officials and consultant Sarah Smith directly asked attendees to reach out to other residents to grow more interest and attendance for future meetings. Citizens from all age demographics and backgrounds are needed to voice their ideas and feedback as key stakeholders.

We are very fortunate that the state will fund all or most of the cost of a new first-through-fifth-grade building, while the community will need to shoulder the financing of a smaller pre-K to kindergarten building located on the same “campus” as the other new school.

My kids are too old to attend these to-be-constructed school buildings, but I know the learning and nurturing that will occur in vibrant, modern classrooms is a down payment on our collective success as a community, one that values education as a core investment, one that welcomes its children home now and in the future.

Inga Sandvoss Browne
Saco

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