RSU 12 school board member Ralph Hilton, of Alna, has petitioned the board to amend its funding formula to one based on per-student cost only.
The current formula is based on Essential Programs and Services, (EPS) which Hilton said does not address the substantial cost differential per student from one town to another.
“Alna pays roughly $9000 per student while Wiscasset, a much larger town, pays $3000,” Hilton said.
Under a ramp up bill known as LD 1, the state is responsible for 55 percent of education costs with the other 45 percent coming from local towns.
Hilton argues that the plan is unfair and does not accurately reflect the true cost per individual student.
A well-known presence at RSU school board meetings, Hilton recently joined the board and hopes to give voice to smaller towns with similar concerns.
Despite having two RSU 12 school board members, Alna does not have a full vote since it’s a town’s population that determines representation.
Enacted in 2007, Maine’s school consolidation has faced a number of legal challenges, one failed repeal vote, and continues to be the subject of much debate among educators and the public. Hilton set no specific timetable for his petition but hopes it brings attention to the issue.
“This is something that needs to be looked at,” he said.
