Expenditure questioned

Thank you for the excellent article, “Union 96 voters wary of office proposal” (BDN, May 7).

Is the prestige of a separate office building essential to the discharge of the duties of Superintendent Donald LaPlante? Would it not be equally effective, though less prestigious, to have office space for LaPlante and his staff in the new high school planned for Union 96?

The Bangor Daily News pointed out that LaPlante had not considered other options such as the purchase of the building where his office in now located. The article indicated LaPlante said he did not know “that the union might be able to buy the building.” This is further indication of inadequate planning.

At a recent school board meeting in Winter Harbor, LaPlante asked the board’s view on pursuing the purchase of portable classrooms to alleviate the crowded conditions in the combined Winter Harbor-Gouldsboro grade school. Discussion revealed that LaPlante didn’t even know whether there was sufficient land at the school on which to place the classrooms.

How can LaPlante expect the residents of our communities to support the questionable expenditure of $480,000 under these

circumstances?

John R. Deane Jr.

Gouldsboro