Value, appreciate educational techs

To the Editor:

Later this spring, the RSU 10 school board will vote to approve a final budget for the 2011-12 school year.

The district is anticipating a significant loss in revenues. While this is caused by a loss in federal funding, the decrease in revenues does not justify the continual defunding of our schools, including the constant loss of jobs that has become commonplace in our community.

One group of people who are constantly under attack during budget season are educational technicians, or ESPs, professionals who work in classrooms educating our children every day. These educators administer assessments as well as teach children to read, ask questions, solve equations and connect with each other socially.

They encourage children to work out their differences, they comfort children when they are sad or hurt and they celebrate their accomplishments. Educational technicians are highly educated workers who give our children their best. Ed techs do all of these things with dedication and love.

And yet, educational technicians will be the first people let go this year, should layoffs be used to balance the budget. This is unfortunate and shouldn't be allowed. There a better solution: RSU #10 should find savings in areas that do not put people out of work. Our community cannot afford to lose more jobs.

The undersigned ed techs have 87 years of combined service to our children. They also live, raise their families, and contribute to the community as members of civic and religious groups. Our community needs to value and appreciate the important work that these professionals do on a daily basis. This means committing to our school workers the way they commit to our children.

Cindy Welch, Kati Mazza, Terri Williams, Tracy Gauvin,

Kristie Boucher, Chris Ford and Adelaide Soloman-Jordan