Editor:

My family and I have been supporters of the South Portland School
System for more than 40 years. We have had children and grandchildren
attend school here. We have also voted for the past additions and
renovations of the many schools. It is a big question now to ask the
taxpayers to spend an additional $56 million to replace the existing
high school. If the City of South Portland cannot take care of what
they have spent millions to fix already, how can it be justified to
spend an additional obscene amount of money?

For instance, when going to a school sports activity at Martin Memorial
Field in South Portland, one must go through a small gate with a
worn-down entrance. When going to watch my granddaughter play soccer,
my wife fell due to a dole in the pavement in the direct path of
entering the field and was consequently injured. It took approximately
a week to fix the worn-out entrance, which probably cost $50 in
materials and two hours of labor and should have been taken care of
months ago. Thanks to the superintendent of schools for the call back.

Having visited Westbrook and Saco athletic fields, it was nice to see
that they were up to date. This is 2007, not 1947. How can a $56
million school be justified when we are still using port-a-potties at
our athletic complex? I have been in construction my entire adult life
and I have seen cleaner port-a-potties on job sites (check the “last
cleaned” date in some of these facilities). I was told that the school
restrooms were open at these games. One would never know because they
are about a football field away. Somebody wasn’t thinking. Why weren’t
new restrooms added to the concession building or included with the
construction of the bleachers and announcing building?

Again – how can it be justified to spend $56 million when the city of South Portland cannot take care of what they already have?

Ralph Aceto

South Portland