Change school system

I read the recent article (BDN, Jan. 25) about the Bangor school superintendent’s opposition to Gov. John Baldacci’s consolidation plan with some amusement. First, unlike the Bangor superintendent, I am a Bangor resident and property tax payer. Second, we, the local taxpayers, pay his salary, which is approximately $130,000. It is no wonder he would oppose the governor’s plan to reduce school bureaucracy, a plan that does not involve consolidating or closing schools.

But what I really resent is that the superintendent is going to be spending his time, paid for by taxpayers, to oppose a plan that is perhaps a threat to his job when the job we are paying him to do is to manage the local schools.

Unfortunately, it is becoming apparent that we do have an entrenched educational bureaucracy that does need to be reined in. Maine spends more per pupil on education than most states; however, our teachers are not as well paid as those numbers would suggest and clearly all of those dollars are not reaching the classroom. And our local superintendent is another person standing in the way of those dollars reaching the classroom.

The self-serving posture of the Bangor superintendent is another reason why the Legislature needs to reform the system.

Having served on the Bangor City Council for six years, I was actively involved in efforts to increase state aid to education. That is now being realized at the promised 55 percent level with this governor, and yet, as is apparent, the education bureaucracy is not satisfied and is unwilling to engage in needed reforms. Students and teachers deserve better, as do the taxpayers; unfortunately, we are not getting it from the educational bureaucrats.

Joseph M. Baldacci

Bangor

Editor’s Note: The writer is Gov. Baldacci’s brother.