I will be attending a Tao performance tonight for this week's event. Unfortunately, it appears that it might be hard to capture multimedia from where we are positioned.

Motivation For The Future

Economists believe taxation interferes with the economy and there should be a different method for the gathering of funds for the community, state and nation. Educators may possess an inverse statement to the economists’ which is: funding reflects the productivity of the economy; thus implying the “economy drives funding.” Both these statements are of very different viewpoints but raise the same idea that society needs to adopt a different system to supply the needs of public education and services. The question that arises is: how can society create a new practice for funding?
As I talked with a contemporary mentor of mine, Tim Rice, who is recognized by students, alumni and faculty of the Boothbay Region School District as an exemplary educator, together we could not fathom a new system for the funding. Besides being a renowned athletics coach, Rice is a seventeen year veteran of both the Boothbay Region High School and Boothbay Region Elementary School acting as a teacher of health and physical sciences. Rice took time out of his school filled day to answer the following questions:
SM: The mill rate in Boothbay for 2008-2009 was 11.8 with 37.2% funding education; everywhere in the country the solution appears to be a raise in property tax. What do you think is a solution in regards to the placements of funds?
TR: In this surrounding area there are various schools without a large amount of students. If these few zip codes were consolidated into one school, I believe the budget deficit could be cut.
SM: How has the budget cut affected your school district?
TR: There has been a heavy loss of positions.
SM: Do you think the quality of education has changed due to these measures?
TR: No, in the sense that all of the teachers here are hard-working in providing education for the students.
What really opened my eyes as listening to Rice was the fact that the questions didn’t raise agitation within him but an attempt to create a solution. Also, there was no reference or concern for materialism illustrated, instead the motivation to make the best out of the situation. Before interviewing Rice, I asked the Town Manager of Boothbay Harbor similar questions and he responded:"Mr. Mayhew,
This appears to be more a series of questions for the School
system rather than the municipalities. I would defer you to them for
their opinion."
This transparency of concern that Tom Woodin possesses does not need to be illustrated anymore.

SPECIAL THANKS TO TIM RICE!