At the Feb. 25 SAD 70 school board meeting the board will decide the harvest break issue. Three options are being considered. I would like to propose a pilot program as a fourth possible option; one that would supply farmers with a long-term labor solution, provide uninterrupted education for most of the students, and instill in all students the culture and traditions surrounding harvest, community and work ethics.

If school administration, teachers, farmers and parents would embrace this plan, we could all do what is right for our community. The school administration would have to make homework packages and make-up work for students. Farmers would have to plan to see that whenever conditions are such that the students can’t work, students should resume classes for that period with farmers supporting the students’ need to study. Parents would support harvest students’ needs to study and help instill positive work ethics.

As a unit, working together, this pilot program could work. We already have a Century 21 after-school program in place; a vehicle to implement option four is already underway and could be utilized.

SAD 70 primary school has been designated a priority school by the state. We need to do whatever we can to support quality and uninterrupted education for our students by working within our community and what it can offer.

Michael A. Lane

Houlton