Three choices for state education

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that public education is at a crossroads in Maine. Never in our state’s history have so many things collided regarding our school systems. Since January, when the governor first announced his regionalization proposal, it has been difficult to keep up with the various conversations in Augusta involving consolidation plans. It has been next to impossible to figure out with any certainty what the various impacts may be.

Some tout consolidation proposals as cost savings measures that will enable state government to save millions of dollars in this biennium budget alone, and possibly even more, further down the line. Others tout consolidation proposals as creating efficiently run school systems that may save some money, but, more important, offer more educational opportunities for our students for less money (when is the last time any of us got more for less in anything?). Still, others tout consolidation proposals as the apocalypse that will cause our entire educational system and hence our entire state’s economy to fail (scenes of “Chicken Little” come to mind for anyone else?). Personally, I tend not to believe in any of these notions fully (as I still haven’t seen any accurate data to prove any of them), and at the same time, in ALL of them partially.

Regardless of what individuals think of the impacts that consolidation may have on the education of children across the state, there are basically only three choices to be made now:

Maintain the status quo – “DANGER, QUICKSAND AHEAD” is written on the sign … would you stop in your tracks and stand there staring at the ground until the quicksand disappeared? If you did, you’d be standing there a very long time. Schools have not remained the same over the past 50 years, nor should they continue to remain the same. Fifty years ago, schools didn’t have laptop computers, Smart Boards, LCD projectors and video conferencing. Schools that utilize distance-learning, and other innovative approaches to education must continue to find ways to positively change at a sustainable rate over time, and to do so efficiently. Does that mean we must consolidate schools? No, but it also doesn’t mean we stay the same in hopes that the quicksand disappears.

Jump into the “quicksand” – Quicksand is hard to see until you’re already too deep in to get out. This is a problem. The most effective and long lasting changes occur from using the “bottom-up” approach and making sure that reasonable time has been taken to make decisions based upon solid “real” data. Speculation just doesn’t cut it. “DANGER, QUICKSAND AHEAD” is written on the sign … would you verify what the implications are of jumping in before doing so? If you do choose to jump in, would you take the time to insure a safety harness is in place in case your worst fears are realized? What if it really is quicksand?

Build a bridge to walk across – Follow this little metaphor and I think we have something that can be used to create positive, long-lasting change. What if when you saw the sign: “DANGER, QUICKSAND AHEAD” instead of deciding to either stay put or to jump in, you decided to build a sturdy bridge over top of the pit? Wouldn’t you still arrive in the same place you intended to arrive at? If you speculate that the pit is simply not dangerous and decide to jump in to find out that it is … your sunk and you don’t arrive where you want to be. If you decide to go in a different direction … who knows if you will ever find your way back again to your intended destination? BUT if you take the time to study, to pilot actual real scenarios, to test the waters, to measure your successes, etc. and use that information to build a bridge together… wouldn’t you arrive at that same intended destination? If the bridge worked, the best part would be others could more easily follow!

I have read articles in the paper, and listened to radio discussions and workshop presentations on the topic of school consolidation. I have heard speculation about the potential impacts. I have even heard people state that small schools should be closed because they cannot possibly offer appropriate programs and choices for their students. I know that is not true (I’ve got about 270 students in K-12 that I would stack up against any in the state)! I have also heard that the time to make a choice is now. On this last point, I agree. There are three choices listed above. I would choose the third: to take more time to build the proper bridge to cross this pit of “quicksand.” Call your legislators today and tell them which you’d choose.

Heather J. Perry is the superintendent of schools for Union 60.