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You have a typo in your list of candidates on the June ballot. Elizabeth Blomquist doesn’t exist in Bar Harbor. You are mixing up Brooke Blomquist aka Zana, running for town council two year term, and Elizabeth Lemire, running for warrant committee.
Bar Harbor spends as much per student as top rated schools such as Boston Latin, spends in the top 10 percent per student (in Maine), and as much as some of the wealthier and/or larger Maine communities you mentioned. However, the outcome (as measured by test results-not the only valid measure but at least quantifiable) is much less. Test score rankings are well below the top 10 percent both in the state. The students per teacher ratio: ditto. More money “in” and inferior results “out”. Since enrollment has been consistently falling as average income people are priced out, labor is the first place that should be cut. The student teacher ratio should be about 18-22 to 1; it almost half that! There is one place to start cutting costs. Yes, cut! A word never mentioned EVER in BH. While I am sure it is true that the elementary school needs improvements/replacements, it is clear that here in Bar Harbor, the Cadillac option -excuse the pun- is not worth the results being produced. More money does not mean a better education. The numbers here prove it.
Just want to say how much I enjoy QSJ. Also, re the cost of a new Emerson School, it would be interesting to compare the cost per student, sq ft per student, and cost per sq ft of the various elementary schools recently built or proposed. That would provide we taxpayers with some data to evaluate the district’s plan.
Hi! I’m a current public school educator who is from MDI but living in Texas . When bonds are put up for a vote here , they are marketed to communities in a simple way that’s easy to understand. They use this model: “for every $100,000 of property valuation, the homeowner will pay X additional tax.” It makes it simple to understand. I am confused as it seems like BH is throwing around percents as a way to scare people. Schools have to be built using local funds. It’s just the way it is. If the average person sees a $360 increase, that’s $30 a month. Surely that is worth it to the community? What is the other option? If the schools are rated that high, doesn’t MDI want to fund a new building for its children? I don’t understand and would appreciate more exploration of this topic. Thank you!
$7243 additional expenses? Im curious what this takes into account. Yes, food has gone up, and fuel. It’s clear that inflation is high, but that number still seems like a lot.
You have a typo in your list of candidates on the June ballot. Elizabeth Blomquist doesn’t exist in Bar Harbor. You are mixing up Brooke Blomquist aka Zana, running for town council two year term, and Elizabeth Lemire, running for warrant committee.
Bar Harbor spends as much per student as top rated schools such as Boston Latin, spends in the top 10 percent per student (in Maine), and as much as some of the wealthier and/or larger Maine communities you mentioned. However, the outcome (as measured by test results-not the only valid measure but at least quantifiable) is much less. Test score rankings are well below the top 10 percent both in the state. The students per teacher ratio: ditto. More money “in” and inferior results “out”. Since enrollment has been consistently falling as average income people are priced out, labor is the first place that should be cut. The student teacher ratio should be about 18-22 to 1; it almost half that! There is one place to start cutting costs. Yes, cut! A word never mentioned EVER in BH. While I am sure it is true that the elementary school needs improvements/replacements, it is clear that here in Bar Harbor, the Cadillac option -excuse the pun- is not worth the results being produced. More money does not mean a better education. The numbers here prove it.
Just want to say how much I enjoy QSJ. Also, re the cost of a new Emerson School, it would be interesting to compare the cost per student, sq ft per student, and cost per sq ft of the various elementary schools recently built or proposed. That would provide we taxpayers with some data to evaluate the district’s plan.
Hi! I’m a current public school educator who is from MDI but living in Texas . When bonds are put up for a vote here , they are marketed to communities in a simple way that’s easy to understand. They use this model: “for every $100,000 of property valuation, the homeowner will pay X additional tax.” It makes it simple to understand. I am confused as it seems like BH is throwing around percents as a way to scare people. Schools have to be built using local funds. It’s just the way it is. If the average person sees a $360 increase, that’s $30 a month. Surely that is worth it to the community? What is the other option? If the schools are rated that high, doesn’t MDI want to fund a new building for its children? I don’t understand and would appreciate more exploration of this topic. Thank you!
$7243 additional expenses? Im curious what this takes into account. Yes, food has gone up, and fuel. It’s clear that inflation is high, but that number still seems like a lot.