As a legislator who has worked for years to improve state funding for public education, I am especially sympathetic to the struggle that the Madison school district now faces in maintaining educational opportunity while losing substantial property tax valuation.

During this crisis, Rep. Jeff McCabe, D-Skowhegan, has fought fiercely for immediate relief for districts like Madison that face severe changes in state aid as a result of unforeseen economic hardship.

Together, at the end of this session, in a bipartisan effort, we were able to wring some additional emergency funding for Madison schools. It’s surely not enough, but it was a lot better than nothing.

McCabe also worked tirelessly with me in the previous session to enact a fairer funding model for charter schools so that they don’t siphon money from community public schools.

Both these efforts have served schools in Somerset County well. I can say with conviction that no one in the Legislature has advocated more strongly for his local schools than McCabe.

Rep. Brian Hubbell

D-Bar Harbor