On Aug. 11, we learned that “a concerned group of citizens” had begun a petition that asked the commissioner of education to review SAD 63 schools.

The petition outlined roughly three major areas of concern that they wanted the commissioner to review. The three areas included: elements of the newly approved budget; the school board election held by the town of Holden; and the number of teachers and administrators who left the district during the summer.

The 2004-2005 school budget was passed the hard way, twice – once at the annual budget meeting and once in the polling booth.

What most people don’t know is that in August 2003, the district auditors reported a deficit for fiscal year 2002-2003 of $108,100 in the General Fund, a $60,943 deficit in the Hot Lunch Program Retained Earnings and a $24,280 deficit in one of the Special Revenues lines. With the deficit balances noted, the cash flow of the district was virtually nonexistent. During the academic year, we saved enough to pay down the deficit and enjoy a positive fund balance. From the current fund balance, as we promised, we will use $173,000 to defray this year’s tax burden to our communities.

The second issue concerns a “fraudulent school board election.” We have absolutely nothing to do with municipal elections. This is a municipal responsibility.

The third issue focuses on the number of staff and teachers who have left the district this summer. Let’s look at the real figures, not the fuzzy figures quoted in the Bangor Daily News.

Actually, we have 37 classroom instructors, two gym instructors, two art teachers and two music instructors. Additionally, we have five special education teachers, three speech therapists, one physical therapist, one regional special education instructors and three reading teachers. There are also two guidance counselors and two nurses.

In the administrative ranks we have seven administrators and one coordinator. The grand total of professional staff is 78, not 46. Of that number, four classroom teachers and one reading teacher left Holden. Additionally, there were two transfers in the building.

In Eddington, two classroom instructors moved to the southern part of the state due to their spouses’ job opportunities, the principal pursued a position she has long been interested in and the special education teacher took a more “clinical” type position.

At Holbrook, the principal retired – an announcement he made four years ago, one classroom teacher left and one classroom teachers assumed his new responsibilities as principal at Eddington Elementary School. Additionally, a Holbrook special education teacher took a position at a small college. All totaled, 12 people left the district to pursue other opportunities. There were seven classroom teachers, one reading instructor, two special education instructors, one music teacher and one principal.

There are many reasons why people leave – a new administration, career opportunities, putting their families on the same school calendar, personal reasons and increases in pay. Many of our faculty members were actively recruited this year because they are talented. Several faculty members were called by other school administrators and told: “We can give you more money.”

The critical issue the fact that we have had the same base salary of $21,200 for the last seven years. This is one of the lowest base salaries offered in the entire state. Unfortunately, this could only be the beginning of the turnover in the teacher ranks.

The baby-boomers have begun to retire. It has been estimated that anywhere from 45 to 75 percent of our faculty in this state may retire in the next five years. How will we attract and keep quality teachers with a base salary of $21,200? Especially when eight minutes up the road, teachers have taken new positions that secured increases in their salaries of between $6,000 and $15,000.

We do recognize parent’s concerns but we think a working partnership amongst us all is what is needed. We in the education community want to continue to move the district ahead. We are excited about our newly hired teachers, many of whom have master’s degrees.

Divisiveness between stockholders will not benefit our student’s learning or faculty moral. Therefore, the superintendent and chair of the board of directors have asked the commissioner of education for a full review of our three schools and the central office. Areas of particular interest are as follows: the academic program; the finances from 2001-2004; and the operations of the central office from 2002-2004.

We feel our hard work will be recognized and any lingering questions concerning our school system will be addressed.

Our sincerest wish is to have any misgivings, which arose several years ago around the budget and which was followed by the validation referendum, put to bed.

Louise M. Regan is superintendent of schools for SAD 63. Don Varnum is chairman of SAD 63 board of directors. This commentary was also signed by members of SAD 63 administration: Brandy St. Pierre, Yvonne Mitchell, Don Spencer, David Anderson, Gary Gonyar and Jake Morgan.