Over 50% savings for Arundel on building renovations if we were to withdraw from RSU 21.

Yesterday's Journal Tribune, and today's Kennebunk Post-Letter to the Editor, the unedited version:

Over 50% savings for Arundel on building renovations if we were to withdraw from RSU 21.

Arundel has a big decision to make in the upcoming vote to withdraw from RSU 21. As unsettled as the town has been since consolidation, the bottom line comes to some serious facts.

I think that we all can agree that the quality of education that is being delivered is exceptional. The changes at the Mildred L. Day School have been positive and very rewarding.

Last year we had the opportunity to vote on a new cost sharing formula, and it failed at the polls because the cost sharing formula did not go far enough. As documented by RSU 21, the estimated impact on tax per $100,000 of valuation is as follows: Arundel 89.69, Kennebunk 37.14, Kennebunkport 4.64. If the new formula were to be passed it would have been as follows: Arundel 88.21, Kennebunk 28.03, and Kennebunkport 13.90. (March 30, 2011) Arundel made an informed and educated decision, and knew what they were voting on.

Arundel is very unique when it comes to education. Arundel has high school choice. 6% of the student population at Kennebunk High School is Arundel students, 75% of the student population is Kennebunk, and 19% from Kennebunkport. With the current projections of the Building Renovations Bond, Arundel’s Mildred L. Day School projected bond is a total of $5,356,689.96 over a period of 20 years. Arundel’s total portion including Consolidated School and Kennebunk High School is $10,982,537.16. If Arundel were to withdraw from RSU 21 and do the renovations to Mildred L. Day School alone Arundel would save a whopping 51% over a period of 20 years. 51% savings if we do the renovations alone, something is seriously wrong with the cost sharing formula. Even if the cost sharing formula that was presented last year passed, we would still be paying more than our fair share.

The newly formed Cost Sharing Committee will find it difficult to create a fair and equitable resolution when it comes to sharing the costs of education. Arundel has not forgotten the fact that there was a dispute between Kennebunkport and Kennebunk over cost sharing before consolidation began. Also, Kennebunkport has not named any members to this committee. Taking into consideration that Arundel has choice without drastic changes in cost sharing, and some respect for Arundel's voice being shown by the RSU, Arundel will vote to withdraw.

I believe with 100% certainty that if Arundel were to withdraw from RSU 21 we could deliver the same quality of education if not better at a considerable savings.

Melanie Mitchell
Arundel Resident