‘Now is the time to invest in all children’

BY CHRISS SUTHERLAND, CEMS Teacher

Feeling anxious and hopeless regarding our current political climate? Then now is the time to invest in the essential professionals working in our school system.

Like other districts around us, Cape is facing a budget shortfall this season (see Sentry article South Portland to lay off teachers, Ed. techs, administrators). But, ours is not due to a reduction in federal funding. It’s the result of a tax revaluation.

There is more value in Cape than before. Let’s invest that value in the invaluable staff that have decided to dedicate their work lives to educating and caring for our children. If you disagree with the egregious dismantling of federal services (e.g. 4,000 U.S. DOE staff facing layoffs), then email our school board and ask that they present a bold budget including a 0% reduction in staff (no RIFs).

As a teacher in our community and a father of three students across our three buildings, I can inform you that our schools are not adequately staffed. Consider the ratio of students to staff and don’t be fooled. Is 20 to 1 a ratio you would stand behind when thinking of your child’s education? Not to mention both food service and custodial, where a lack of staffing has necessitated an all hands on deck approach (think… administrators running registers).

Now is the time to invest in all children. Let’s send a signal to Augusta and Washington that Cape supports educators.