Sither

Fall is a time of change for many of us. In my house we pack away the beach towels that survived hundreds of hours in the sun, shake the last of the sand from the toys, and decide which pairs of goggles will live to see another season. The kids try on new sneakers and fall coats, while their dad and I try to remember where we put the “good mittens” and calculate the number of barrels we will need to remove all of these acorns. It is a busy time full of transition.

Around this same time each year, the Town Council begins its preparations for the changes ahead. This November, the council will be saying farewell to three current council members: Chairman Nick McGee, Councilor Jean-Marie Caterina and Councilor Don Hamill. While each leaves huge shoes to fill, it is up to those of us remaining council members to ease the transition and help plan for the future. Succession planning for our committees is well underway as each committee reflects on the work they have completed and begins to make suggestions for future work so that we stay aligned and on track with our 2024 council goals. I have no doubt that those on the ballot in November will have fresh perspectives, new initiatives and an eagerness to serve the people of Scarborough. If you are interested in learning more about those running for office, I would encourage you to watch Candidates Night, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 25, available on the Scarborough Maine Public Meetings YouTube channel.

As I reflect on our council goals, it is hard to imagine that it has been almost a year since I was out canvassing to speak to residents about the unified school project. Around that same time, I submitted a letter to the editor, which basically said, “If not this project, what? If not this committee, who?” And although I was disappointed to see the referendum fail, what came out of that defeat is something to be proud of. The most recent citizen-driven committee dedicated hundreds of hours to seeking a solution for our aging and crowded school buildings. They have proposed four possible solutions that will be more deeply examined by a Phase 2 committee in partnership with a professional consultant. By all accounts, the Town Council and Board of Education have facilitated a plan that was almost entirely driven by community feedback. As the Phase 2 committee begins its work in the next few weeks, I want to remind the community how critical your feedback has been and will continue to be. There are still many pivotal decisions to be made in order to be ready to put a school solution on an upcoming ballot. Be on the lookout for opportunities to make your voice heard and be proactive by reaching out to your town leaders.

Looking ahead to 2025, working toward a school solution will remain one of my top priorities. Keeping the needs and wants of the greater community front and center has served this committee well to this point. I will be honest, it is unnerving to hear news from surrounding communities that have recently pursued a similar path, struggling once again to come to consensus. How do we as leaders avoid a similar fate here in Scarborough? I’d love to hear your thoughts. The current space, infrastructure and programming challenges in our schools are simply not things that we can pack away with the goggles and forget about until next summer.

April Sither is vice chair of the Scarborough Town Council.

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