By Molly Lovell

Staff Writer

During an emotional public hearing Monday night people packed into Biddeford City Theater to oppose cutting the 2009 school budget by a proposed $1.4 million. More than 70 people spoke in support of the schools, many of them students in the Biddeford school district, some as young as seventh grade.

Several district employees and parents wore pins that said, “Cuts hurt kids.” No one spoke in support of the budget cut.

Many spoke about losing extracurricular programs and teachers, which Mayor Joanne Twomey said Tuesday morning “disturbed” her.

“We haven’t sat down as a school board and discussed what we think can go and what should stay. They’re [the public] talking about generalizations when we don’t have specifics,” she said. 

Biddeford High School senior Julia Butler spoke on behalf of the journalism program at the school, noting recent accomplishments and need for the program.

“Education is not limited to English, history, science and mathematics. It also needs to include things like the arts, music, photography and art classes where students learn to appreciate art and culture and some of the most beautiful things we have in this world today,” she said. 

Butler said the community is made up of a whole and the schools are an integral part of that community.

“You cannot afford to have that suffer because everyone who’s part of the school today will be part of the community tomorrow,” she said.

Biddeford resident Mark Fisher has two daughters in the school system and called the situation an “impending crisis.”

His oldest daughter is a college bound senior at Biddeford High School, noting the increasing competition in the college acceptance process. He said without extracurricular activities and honor programs, students will miss out on educational opportunities needed to gain a leg up on fellow applicants.

“These cuts cannot be made and we cannot suffer them,” said Biddeford High School student Andrew Mackeil, adding, “I don’t want to leave this behind and leave it a wreck.”

He went on to say he feared increased class sizes if cuts were made and said students are currently using outdated textbooks, a situation he can see growing worse. He addressed the council again later in the meeting urging them to do the “right thing,” discouraging Biddeford’s image as a “run down mill town.”

Several members of parent-teacher organizations expressed concern that fundraising efforts would have to go toward purchasing basic classroom supplies rather then providing enrichment programs. Others expressed concern about the high school losing accreditation and students having to pay to play sports. 

Sophomore Jessica Goulet said sports and extracurricular activities keep students “out of the streets and away from drugs.”

Bryan Litchfield, president of the Biddeford Teacher’s Association said in an earlier interview there is a fear among teachers and administration that jobs will be lost, but the fear is secondary. 

“Really, it’s far beyond looking at individual positions being cut. How these cuts will affect programming with students? That is the main concern. If cuts need to occur like they’re occurring across the state and nation, how can these cuts take place and impact the children the least?” he asked.

Ann Chabot, a PTO member, has a daughter in fifth grade in the Biddeford Intermediate School band program. She said during the 2005-2006 school year 97 students participated in band. The 2006-2007 school year saw 122 kids in the program and this year 185 kids are involved.

“That’s almost half of the student population,” she said, adding, “A lot of students shine in other programs that are non-academic. If you take them away, I’m not sure what will happen.”

She also vowed to send her daughter to another school if the high school loses accreditation. 

One Biddeford Middle School seventh grader urged the council to keep programs such as band. “I wonder what will happen to me?” he asked the council as he began to cry.

Biddeford resident Roberta Bernier has two students in the Biddeford school system, including her autistic son who will be attending Biddeford Middle School.

“I beg you not to take away the ed techs and special needs teachers,” she said.

Jim Buttler, president of the Biddeford Athletic Association said he feared if programs were under funded students would be in the streets “pan handling for money,” adding, “If you leave a good taste in their mouths they will come back to this community to help it thrive.”

Halfway through the meeting the council realized viewers at home had a difficult time hearing the audio.

“It’s only the latest grotesque,” resident Richard Rhames said.

School Committee member Anthony Michaud urged the council to be balanced and equal, and also expressed confidence that schools and teachers would be creative in providing an education to students no matter what amount was cut from the budget.

Former Mayor Donna Dionne said, “It’s not pretty sitting on that side, watching kids cry,” adding that she fears there is distrust happening between the school committee and council.

Twomey said Tuesday she feels each is doing their role and called the statement an unfair analysis. 

She said she was proud to see so many students speak at the meeting and that she wasn’t surprised a large number of them showed up. She said the Biddeford High School Student Council circulated a letter indicating a rumor that students under 18 years old wouldn’t be allowed in the meeting unless accompanied by an adult. 

“I was very upset about that letter. They painted this picture that there would be Gestapo at the door,” she said, adding that she wants students to feel free to take part in municipal issues.

“We’re all in this together – I need all the help I can get,” she said, adding, “I am not the Bank of America. We are in a recession and I have people in this city who are losing their homes because of the mortgage crisis.”

Twomey was scheduled to meet with the school committee this week to talk further about the budget. The public will vote on the budget May 29, as mandated by the state. She said if it doesn’t pass, the city will have to hold another referendum at cost of $7,000.

Contact Molly Lovell by callng 282-4337 ext. 219 or email news@inthecourier.com.