In an unusual move, Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Superintendent Robert Kahler responded to recent public statements during the March 12 Community School District (CSD) school board meeting. He presented a handout during his report with answers to questions on enrollment and tuition. 

Several recent letters to the editor in the Register have raised issues on the cost of education, especially a $30 million project up for referendum in April. Letter writers have expressed concern about what they view as high costs for low enrollment, declining enrollment and an unfair financial burden for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor taxpayers.  

In one recent letter, Denise Griffin of Boothbay Harbor expressed concern that families with students from “other towns” who attend CSD schools will not help finance construction. “Once again, we are shouldering the bulk of the educational burden for the region. This is a raw deal and a slap in the face for Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor taxpayers,” she wrote.  

However, Kahler said the finances are more complicated. He said the cost for construction would go to debt service, but tuition revenue reduces the towns’ assessment. He said the CSD currently has 110 students enrolled in the district from other towns, and the number of tuition students has grown by 45% over the past five years. He reported the 2024 tuition rate is around $18,000 for Boothbay Region Elementary School (BRES) and $13,000 for Boothbay Region High School (BRHS). In total, he said tuition brings in roughly $1.26 million.

“The total amount of tuition received as of today would cover most if not all of the principal payment of the bond and some of the interest annually,” Kahler told the Register. “Currently that revenue is budgeted to reduce the annual assessment to the towns, which has helped maintain some of the lowest mil rates within the state.” The 2021 estimated average tax rate per $1,000 of property value in Maine was 12.66 while Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor was around 8, according Maine Revenue Services.

However, of the 110 out-of-town students, Kahler reported 28 are part of a “superintendents’ agreement.” No tuition may be charged under the agreements according to Maine Department of Education but Kahler said there is a state subsidy of up to around $8,700 for 2024. 

In the agreements, two superintendents may approve the transfer of a student from one public school administrative unit to another. According to Maine Department of Education, the agreements require both superintendents agree the transfer is in the student’s best interest and the student’s parent must approve. Kahler said the agreements are mostly for children of teachers who live out of town and “one of the most powerful retention tools we have at our disposal.” However, they can be for other reasons including students who moved near senior year and want to graduate with peers, or for more dire circumstances such as harmful domestic situations or witness protection.  

“It's good to point out that superintendents’ agreements are not made lightly,” said board member Bruce MacDonald. “Often kids who come from troubled situations at home.” 

The CSD has 21 teachers’ children and seven others currently under the agreements in the CSD, according to Kahler. He added the district has three students out to other schools. 

Kahler also addressed concerns about declining enrollment. He told the board there have been 497 CSD students over a three-year average, which has been increasing. However, he noted a decline in local residents attending CSD schools in the past five years; BRES enrollment has annually grown by an average of four students and BRHS’ has dropped by just over that. 

In public comment, Laura Perkins said letters in the Register were using different figures than Kahler. She said Kahler reported enrollment compared to five years ago, which she called an all-time low. She questioned what the net change would be if compared to a higher enrollment of 10 years ago, which she said is how many taxpayers view it.

“One group is picking high years, and you are picking low years, it creates controversy,” she said. “You just gave me honest numbers, and I think the other people did too, but that's why we need to compare apples to apples.” 

In other news, Kahler told the Register March 14 repairs to the water main that broke outside BRHS March 12 were completed the next day. He gave credit to Boothbay Region Water District and E.M. Wood Construction for the repairs and said "they did a great job." He also said the work may appear unfinished until April vacation because the ground still needs to dry out.

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated from its original posting.