Bonny Eagle High placed on probation

STANDISH — College-bound seniors at Bonny Eagle High School should not be affected by an accreditation association’s decision to place the school on probation for failing to meet education standards, officials say.

After touring the school this fall, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges concluded that it fell short of the standards met by the majority of Maine high schools. Dexter High School is the only other school in Maine currently on probation.

Probation is rare for high schools. Of the 689 high schools in New England that are members of the association, 23 are on probation.

The decision does not strip Bonny Eagle of its accreditation, but it does mean the school should make improvements to meet the association’s standards. State officials say the school meets state licensing guidelines.

If the school board and residents want to get the school off probation, it will mean several corrective measures, some of which would be costly.

Already, the school has produced a list of 26 items it has taken care of or is addressing from the NEASC’s list of 135 recommendations. The most expensive recommendations — hiring a new guidance counselor and more teachers — will require more money, or a major shift in funding.

The community also can decide to do nothing, as accreditation by a private association does not affect state licensing.

Students should not be immediately affected by the association’s decision. College-bound seniors are still likely to meet admission standards, and seniors looking toward jobs or careers in the military are not expected to encounter problems.

“The sky doesn’t fall based on a decision that’s made by this organization,” said Mike Higgins, special projects director for the state Department of Education. “But it tells about how Bonny Eagle compares to a common standard. The findings show pretty conclusively where they need to do more work.”

Charles Parlin, principal at Mount Blue High School in Farmington, says his school hasn’t been accredited for at least five years, but that hasn’t stopped graduates from attending good schools. Last year, seniors went on to Harvard University and the Air Force Academy, he said.

Parlin said the school district doesn’t have the $10,000 to $12,000 needed for the once-a-decade accreditation review, though he wishes it did.

“Like everything in this world, I’d rather have a Cadillac than a Chevrolet,” Parlin said.