Many areas divide the citizens of Freeport from the citizens of Pownal/Durham regarding our schools, as evidenced by school budget votes over the last few years. I’ll mention one of many points that might show how budget decisions affect our students.

Over the years top teachers who learned their craft in Freeport, Pownal and Durham at the beginning of their careers, became expert, best-practice educators, then left for higher-paying jobs and are now teaching in Yarmouh, Cumberland, Brunswick, etc. I know of more than one first-rate teacher who left this year. A school system cannot afford to allow this to happen.

Our students deserve the best and brightest teachers, and Freeport is the only district in the RSU that gets it.

Again, teacher retention is only one of many areas where RSU 5 gets it wrong. Class sizes are growing, aides are disappearing and the staff is not happy. We need to change things.

Please vote yes.

John Brogan

Freeport