Dear Editor:

Boothbay Harbor is projected to only have 40 students in the high school next year, but will be charged a total of over $3.54 million as its share of the Region’s overall education bill. Southport and Edgecomb actually have more high school students here, but those towns only contribute the state-regulated flat $12,558 per pupil tuition.

I love our schools and teachers, but those numbers would suggest this “business model” is broken.

This year’s whopping 16.8% increase will be voted on at an upcoming, in-person vote in the next few weeks. And that may only be the first of many such increases. There may be other potential solutions, such as a more centralized regional high school closer to Route 1. Unfortunately, nobody seems to be talking about any other options right now.

The goal for all of us is a better, more cost-effective solution for educating our children. Please pay attention and participate. It could be well worth both your time and your money.

Sincerely,

Tom Perkins

Boothbay Harbor