South Berwick- Take a moment to recall your high school days-- walking down the familiar hallways, smiling at the faces you’ve grown up with as they pass by, participating in clubs, committees, and teams, celebrating camaraderie at pep-rallies, finally getting somewhat of a choice in the classes you had to sit through... the list goes on. With the current economic crisis, these fond memories may soon be nothing more but mere recollections of the way life used to be. A school district in southern Maine struggles to keep these memories of such opportunity alive and progressing for those in anticipation of attending Marshwood High School.
Since September of 2008, the state of Maine has faced a $200 million shortfall in education in the shadow of the national economic crisis. This translates to a $68 million loss to the school district MSAD #35, who depends heavily on state funding. If not for the $827,000 received from the Federal Stimulus Package, MSAD #35 would have been nearly $1.3 million dollars short of it’s typical funds this fiscal year. This federal aid will not be coming in next year, leaving Marshwood High School in a scramble to prepare for a financially trying bout.
Marshwood has already put a budget freeze into action, and if no solution to this financial problem is found, a salary freeze will be initiated as well as a cut back on employees and programs offered to students. This has stirred up much concern with the community, as such measures have significantly reduced the quality of education in the past. Since the last economic downfall in the 1980’s, Marshwood has worked hard to re-build its reputation as a successful, competitive, college-preparatory high school.
After much research and contemplation, the Marshwood Board of Directors has come up with a possible solution to Marshwood’s financial woes.
Starting in September 2010, Marshwood High School will admit and tuition 10 non-residential students who apply before April 30th. This policy is subject to an annual review where the school board may adjust the amount of students accepted to what is best for the school and its community.
As of next year, the tuition will be roughly $8,700 a year plus a $500 application fee. This yields an $8,400 profit for Marshwood for each student admitted to the high school. With 10 non-residential students admitted, this means a $84,000 profit for the year.
While this profit will serve as a solution for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the school board has confessed an ulterior motive; they are looking at eventually “tuitioning in” another town’s high school students to the present Eliot/South Berwick district.
Traip Academy of Kittery, Maine is a neighboring high school facing similar, yet magnified financial struggles. In addition to dwindling funds, the enrollment rate is lower than ever at 280 students, and is projected to continue to fall. The town of Kittery is now considering closing the high school only two years after shutting down their elementary school.
Marshwood High was built with the intention of holding up to 1,100 students. Currently, there are 750 students enrolled in the high school leaving empty class rooms, and great potential to grow.
If Kittery residents were to attend Marshwood by paying the $8,700 tuition, MSAD #35 would be capable of not only providing more programs and opportunities than they currently do, but also would be able to afford to hire many of the teachers currently employed at Traip Academy.
This integration of Kittery high school students, however, depends on whether or not the town decides to close down Traip Academy. Also, citizens of Eliot and South Berwick must vote in favor of combining kids from the three towns. In anticipation of this possibility, Marshwood and Traip school committees have formed a subcommittee to discuss this option in a proactive manner.
As for now, Marshwood awaits the new-coming school year with the assimilation of the10 tuition-paying students in hopes that it will save the school from further financial detriment.
No comments:
Post a Comment