Thanks, Frank

Though School Administrative District 61 Superintendent Frank Gorham will not retire from his post until June 26, the passage last week of the last annual budget created during his three-year tenure is an apt time to thank him for his service to the district.

Genial and earnest, Gorham, 60, helped steer SAD 61 through rocky financial currents created in part by state mandates designed to save local taxpayers money during the three years he served as superintendent.

LD1, the state law passed in 2005, which caps district spending unless voters approve going over the state-designated limit, and the Reorganization Law passed in June 2007 may never save local taxpayers money, thanks to millions of dollars in lost state subsidies to a district already streamlined in its operations.

Just as SAD 61 adjusted to losing more than $1 million in each of the three years LD1 has been in effect because the district property values used by the state to measure subsidies increased, the Reorganization Law passed by the Legislature last year landed another punch on SAD 61.

The district was urged by the state to merge with SADs 55 covering the towns of Baldwin, Cornish, Hiram, Parsonsfield and Porter, and 72, covering Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Sweden and Stow to form a Regional School Union of more than 675 square miles with disparities in teacher pay, transportation contracts and enough lakes and ponds to make creating one central office space almost impossible for lack of straight driving routes.

Those laws certainly never made Gorham’s life easy, although he would be the first to credit others for the hard work and ideas needed to augment state subsidy losses for three years.

Andy Madura supervises the district transportation, maintenance and food service departments. Kevin Hancock led the ad hoc committee that helped convince Maine Department of Education officials that the district and its taxpayers are better served by SAD 61 remaining independent.

The price of independence is steep for SAD 61. The special and adult education centers are slated to close within the next two years, educational technicians are losing their jobs, and there will be less money set aside to repair Lake Region High School as it ages.

While those choices were being made, Gorham knew as well that more cuts to special education services could violate federal laws requiring the district to educate all its students despite special needs.

Gorham is right to credit others for the help guiding the district through difficult times, but it is his calm demeanor, ability to listen and make tough decisions unflinchingly that set the tone for what has been achieved.

Casco Town Manager David Morton said Gorham alleviated tensions between towns and the school district with his honesty and open nature. It should be added that others might have been more fervent in standing up to the state, but Gorham was the steadiest.

Residents in Sebago are unhappy the elementary school could be closed. Some parents of students needing special education say the district has been callous in creating the education plans to help their children. Job cuts for educational technicians mean some parents worry about the quality of education eroding. These are some of the difficulties Gorham’s successor Patrick Phillips faces as he takes over July 1.

Before he does, it is time to thank Gorham for his grace, humor, candor and ability to make tough decisions in the best interest of SAD 61.

David Harry, editor