Harmony's heart is its school

Morning Sentinel, February 6, 2007

(excerpt) The people of Harmony say they already know how to stretch a dollar when it comes to education spending.

The town of 800 runs its own school department and has one school -- the K-8 Harmony Elementary. Its principal also serves as superintendent and special education director.

Last year, voters opted to cut costs by recognizing Dexter Regional High School as the town's official secondary school. Although more Harmony students attend Foxcroft Academy than Dexter, state law allows the town to pay Foxcroft the $6,810 Dexter cost per student rather than $8,379, because of the official designation.

People who live and work in Harmony say they are skeptical of Gov. John E. Baldacci's plan to reduce the number of school districts from 290 to 26. They say they don't believe consolidation will necessarily stop with the stated goal of reducing administrative costs.