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School board member calls out 'misinformation' over Thornton Academy funding and negotiations
Summary
At the April 8 meeting, School Board member Roach delivered a lengthy statement criticizing what he described as two years of community misinformation about Thornton Academy funding and negotiation posture; he said the district presented a contract proposal two weeks earlier and questioned the other party's refusal of mediation. Superintendent Ray said he had not received a response from the other party.
School Board member Roach used the April 8 meeting to push back on what he called "misinformation" circulating in the community about Thornton Academy and the district's negotiating stance. Roach said Thornton Academy is budgeted for the largest increase in the Saco schools budget for fiscal 2026–27 and criticized public statements suggesting the district was not negotiating in good faith.
"I've had enough of the misinformation in this community," Roach said, urging representatives from Thornton Academy to attend board meetings and pointing to open contact information. He said the district presented a contract proposal two weeks earlier and that a mediator had been offered but, in Roach's account, the external party declined mediation.
Superintendent Ray responded that he had not heard back from the other institution on the proposal. "I have not," Ray said when asked whether the district had received a reply.
Roach framed the dispute in historical terms, noting the long history of Saco Public Schools and arguing for partnership rather than confrontation. Several other board members briefly voiced agreement with Roach's call for clarifying information to be shared publicly, and Roach encouraged direct outreach and continued negotiation.
The board did not take a formal vote on the matter during this meeting. Roach is a member of the negotiations committee, and his remarks focused on public messaging and the need for ongoing dialogue rather than a specific policy change.
