I wish to publicly thank Maine’s congressional delegation, Reps. John Baldacci and Tom Allen and Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins for their leadership roles in funding the federal portion of special education costs. Twenty-five years ago, as Congress increased the obligation of local districts to provide more services for students with special needs, it declared its intent to fund 40 percent of special education costs.

Over the last few years, congressional spending for special education programs has crept up from 9 percent to 12 percent of the cost. Congress now has the opportunity and the means to make its often-stated intent a reality. Forty percent funding would mean an increase of $68 million to the state of Maine, which would go a long way to relieving the property tax burden in Maine.

As president of the Maine School Boards Association, I have had the opportunity to meet with each member of our congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., for the past three years. We are very fortunate in Maine to have bipartisan support for public education and for programs that would enhance the education of Maine’s students.

If you would like to join Maine School Boards Association, Gov. Angus King and our representatives and senators in expressing your support for the federal government meeting its commitment to fund 40 percent of special education costs, please contact President Bush by email at president@whitehouse.gov or leave a message at the White House for President Bush at 202-456-1414.

Phyllis M. Shubert

President

Maine School

Boards Association

Bangor