Playing poker with our money

It seems we are losing focus of what’s important in the discussion concerning school district consolidation. It’s devolved into a sort of poker game in which one side proposes its ideal number of school districts and the other tries to up the ante.

This numbers game is purely political. It pits those who want reform and those who desire the status quo. The reformers must win this battle. Consolidation, even to 26 districts as originally proposed, is manageable, but only if we have the will power to do it.

Gov. John Baldacci’s goal of 26 districts – proposed in January and greeted with initial admiration by politicians on both sides of the aisle – was made in order to reduce the number of school superintendents and their central offices. The purpose of the restructuring was to save taxpayer money. A mere few months later, Baldacci’s leadership on this issue has flagged. And now it seems the goal is to ruffle the least amount of feathers.

As a result, the initial proposal to cut school districts from 290 to 26 has pretty much vanished, whisked away by political wrangling. The latest talk is of 80 districts. Or was it 150? It’s hard to keep track.

It’s time to stay focused. It’s time for Baldacci and

Education Commissioner Susan Gendron to fight for their initial 26-district proposal. Presumably, they put much effort into it, so why abandon it so quickly?

They need to remember they have the people on their side. Many Mainers supported the Palesky tax cap and TABOR. Many who voted against them, did so trusting their lawmakers who promised reductions in spending. Now’s the time for our leaders to trim the fat, and the easiest place to start is with bloated bureaucracies.

Clearly, Mainers know cuts can be made. Cuts must be made to keep our state economically viable. Let’s hope that goal is not lost with all this second-guessing.

A fitting tribute

A heart-warming story comes to us this week out of the Lakes Region where friends of a deceased Standish woman, Laura Vogel, intend to honor her memory by running a marathon.

Vogel, 27, died in January while serving on a humanitarian aid trip to the Dominican Republic. Friends and family were devastated by the loss and set about to remember her in special ways. One of those ways will be on display Monday during the annual Boston Marathon.

Since Vogel was training to run the famed marathon when she died, two of her friends will run in her place. It’s their way of making sure Vogel’s memory doesn’t fade. In addition, friends and family will be there to cheer from the roadside. More friends will wear T-shirts to work Monday in tribute.

Running 26 miles certainly will be a challenge for the two runners, but their love of Vogel will no doubt keep them going. In a world where much is done out of self-love, the love they are showing for their friend is heartening to see.

-John Balentine, editor