Dear Editor:

Tom Perkins was right on the “money” suggesting that the trustees, school committee and community members perhaps search for alternative solutions towards our changing community dynamic. While I don’t have the perfect “solution”; I do think that the communities on the peninsula, including Edgecomb and extending to Wiscasset should put their collective heads together and consider the potential, the possibiities of a regional high school. As a teacher of some 40+ years in both Boothbay and Wiscasset plus 6 years away, and having taught “problem solving” as part of the process of educational content, there are multiple solutions to most problems. I believe it to be imperative that our communities at the very least start this discussion and identify the pros and the cons surrounding a joint venture of a regional school district sharing a Regional high school. There is certainly much to consider- tax dollars, current population served and projected trends, transportation, location, school campus design and instructional content, curriculum and philosophy, sports, school size, class size…what does this all look like?

Projected costs associated with building a “new” high school have gone from $80-$98 million. What are the costs associated with a reno?

I know the excitement of working and teaching in a “new” school, I taught in the BRES when it first opened 46 years ago. Time flies. My wife taught at BRHS for 34 years. We both see the pros and the cons of a regional high school. I think it’s time for a common sense approach to address this “regional” problem: school populations are dwindling, education costs are increasing and providing our future generation of students a top notch educational experience remains a priority.. We all want what’s best for our kids. Lets search for “multiple” solutions, remain open minded before we decide on one. And thank you Tom Perkins for opening this door for discussion.

Rob Cronk

Southport