Dear Editor:

I want to encourage the Register to publish a thorough summary of the most important details that voters will need to consider before the Nov. 7, 2023, vote on a new bond issue for the Boothbay Region School System.   

The Building Exploratory Committee (BEC) has worked diligently to evaluate the school system's current facility conditions and examine various design and building proposals -- all leading up to the Committee's final recommendation for the $ 89 million project. Well before the November vote, it would be good to have this paper provide a review of the central facts that make up the big picture facing the school system and community overall.  Most of these issues have been reported on in the paper during the time the BEC has been working, but a thorough recap on the following issues would be helpful to everyone in the community.

The first issue is enrollment patterns. What were the system enrollment numbers over the last decade 2013-2023? What are the projections going forward for the next decade 2023-2033?

The second is average class size and its relationship to course offerings. Do current and forecast class size support the selection of courses parents wish to see for their children, especially in the upper grades?

The third is regional cost per student. How does Boothbay's cost compare with Wiscasset, Bath, Damariscotta and Brunswick?

The fourth issue is the impact on taxpayers. It is particularly important to understand how an increase in tax burden is likely to affect younger families with school-age children. Will it make Boothbay more or less attractive to these year-round residents, compared to surrounding communities, even though the increase is tied to the school system?  Useful data on this issue could probably be collected and published by the Register with the help of individuals in the community with survey research experience.  

Rob O'Connor

East Boothbay