“All politics are local.” That means the decisions we make right here in Hope shape the future of our children, our economy and the strength of our town.

That’s why it’s so important to preserve Hope Elementary School’s budget — a budget that has already been gutted over and over and has been stretched to its limits. I have children at Hope Elementary, and I’ve seen firsthand how hard this school works to deliver real academic value on a shoestring. And yet, even with minimal resources, this school continues to deliver outstanding teaching, smart administration and real academic results.

We must show up and vote no on any attempt to cut the Hope Elementary School budget at the Special Town Meeting on Thursday, May 15, at 6 p.m. at the Hope Elementary School gym. Your presence and your vote will directly shape the future of this school and this town.

It’s not operating with extras—it’s operating with the bare minimum, made possible only by the extraordinary effort of staff and educators who do more with less every day.

This is not a bloated or ideological spending plan. It’s a lean, responsible investment in a school that delivers enormous value with limited resources. Hope Elementary is staffed by under-compensated but deeply committed educators.

They go above and beyond to teach core academics, build character and help children grow into thoughtful, resilient citizens.

This week, every household in Hope received a flyer from Select Board member Joe Tassi. The flyer included a photo of a rainbow-colored “Welcome” sign inside the school and questioned how much of the school budget supports what he called “inclusion.”

Let’s be clear—this flyer isn’t about the budget. It’s an attack on the most basic American values: that all people are created equal, that every child deserves dignity and that public schools should serve every student.

The sign in question? It’s just paper on a wall. It costs nothing. It replaces no subject. But it tells every child: “You are safe. You belong.”

That message isn’t political. It’s patriotic. It’s the heart of e pluribus unum—from many, one.

Even more troubling, Tassi’s flyer follows a playbook we’ve seen before. In the fall, the ultra-right Concord Fund Super PAC funded similar political attacks in our own community, as reported in the Midcoast Villager.

These flyers and mailers may appear local, but they’re part of a broader well-funded strategy to divide small towns like ours and stir up fear for political gain. This isn’t neighbor-to-neighbor discourse—it’s national culture war tactics showing up in our mailboxes.

This is how it works: outside groups with deep pockets stir up fear over public education, push misleading talking points and try to pit neighbors against each other. It’s not democracy. It’s government by special interests—not by, of and for the people.

And now, there’s talk of a $100,000 cut to the Hope Elementary budget. Let’s be clear: there’s no fat left to trim. This budget is already lean. That kind of cut would do real harm to services our children rely on every day.

This isn’t just about families with kids. It’s about everyone in Hope.

I’m not writing this as a distant observer. I have children at Hope Elementary. I’ve walked the halls, talked with the teachers and seen how much they do with how little. This school is a lifeline for families like mine—and a foundation for the future of Hope.

Strong schools keep our town strong. They attract new families, support local businesses and build a skilled, engaged community. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, even a 5% increase in school performance can boost a town’s overall economic health. Zillow reports that quality schools are one of the top drivers of local prosperity.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond has found that when rural areas improve their public schools, they see increased in-migration, population growth and stronger local economies. In short, good schools drive opportunity. Brookings Institution research also shows that the reputation of school quality directly affects economic investment in towns like ours.

At the individual level, the data is just as clear. A global study led by economists Eric Hanushek and Ludger Woessmann found that improving education quality—not just adding more years of schooling—is one of the most powerful ways to raise future earnings and drive national economic growth. Children who receive strong foundational instruction in elementary school earn more, contribute more and build stronger families and communities.

Most important of all, research from Harvard and Yale shows that kids learn best when they feel safe and supported. That’s not a luxury. It’s how students succeed in reading, math and life. Psychological safety improves academic outcomes, attendance and long-term resilience. That’s what Hope Elementary works hard to provide.

This school is not fancy. It’s not over-resourced. But it is something we should all be proud of: a place where teachers work hard, kids are learning and everyone is welcome.

We urge every resident of Hope—and everyone who supports this community—to show up and vote no on any attempt to cut the Hope Elementary School budget at the Special Town Meeting on Thursday, May 15, at 6 p.m. in the Hope Elementary School gym. This is the one place where your presence and vote will directly impact the future of our school.

Let’s choose responsibility over fear. Let’s protect our values. Let’s invest in our children—and in Hope.

Andrew Vontz lives in Hope