School choice must be preserved

Maine has a long history of school choice, but there has been a steady erosion of families’ ability to choose the school that best suits their child. The current round of school consolidation may be the final chapter for school choice. Because of a combination of lack of involvement by voters and crafty maneuvering by those who are against school choice, families throughout Maine are likely to find that the opportunity for them to exercise school choice has been eliminated.

School choice is not popular with the education establishment. Monopolists offering an inferior product don’t like competition. School choice makes it impossible for schools to ignore the wishes of parents and the needs of students.

It was reported by the Bangor Daily News on March 27 that more than 25 percent of high school students in Etna and Dixmont choose to go out of district. Given that fact, it’s hard to claim that the default high school is able to meet the needs of every student. Parents clearly think otherwise, and it is parents who have the needs of their children closest to heart.

A survey published by The Economist on Nov. 8, 2007 found that only 32 percent of Americans are opposed to school choice (the survey used the word “voucher” instead of “choice”), and 59 percent of people gave their local school a grade of C, D or F. A survey is not needed to know that there is consensus on the fact that we need better schools, and school choice makes it easier to identify those schools that are most in need of improvement. Parents know which schools are serving their children well and which are not.

The situation in the Etna-Dixmont district (SAD 38) is a good example of how the ongoing school consolidation process is being used to eliminate school choice. For months, voters have been told by the superintendent and a few school board members that SAD 38 is simply not a choice district. Regarding school choice, the consolidation plan submitted to the state Department of Education last November baldly states, “not applicable.”

Recently, people in SAD 38 were told that the contract with our consolidation partner, SAD 48, must be amended to conform to the terms of the consolidation agreement. This was followed by a legalistic hair-splitting argument about what “choice” means. Eventually the voters became fed up with double-talk and stonewalling; we demanded to see the contract so that we could judge matters for ourselves. At that point, the story changed. There hasn’t been a valid contract for years.

It’s difficult to determine exactly who is at fault for past confusion and misinformation. For the voters it makes no difference, and finger-pointing won’t resolve anything. This pattern of poor communication and uncertainty about the facts is not unique to SAD 38. If you care about school choice, you must pay close attention to the process at every step along the way.

Under its current form, the school consolidation law does not allow the terms of any existing agreement between consolidating districts to be changed after July 1, 2008. Those who are working to eliminate school choice are aware of this deadline. After that date, anywhere that school choice exists, it will be protected under the current law.

Looking a few years into the future, school choice advocates can expect that an attempt will be made to eliminate school choice outright. Certain districts, acting out of self-interest, will observe that if school choice is eliminated, then they stand to gain students, and the dollars that come with them. It is the most troubled districts that see the greatest loss of students because of parents exercising school choice. These troubled districts stand to gain the most from the elimination of school choice, and they will push the anti-school choice argument most vocally.

The best way to head off this series of events is for there to be a large number of families who are able to exercise school choice. Those working against school choice know this. By using the school consolidation process to whittle away at the school choice constituency, they aim to reduce the number of school choice advocates left standing, thereby tilting circumstances to their advantage when the next legislative fight comes around.

If you want to ensure that school choice is preserved or is brought into existence in your district, now is the time to get involved. Contact schoolchoice@yahoo.com for information and advice.

Sandra Pyne is a resident of Dixmont with children in junior high and elementary school. Janet Winchester, a resident of Etna, has two children in high school and one in college.