Group plans Episcopal prep schools

A volunteer group based on Mount Desert Island is looking to establish private Episcopal schools in the Bangor, Camden, Portland and Lewiston-Auburn areas.

The schools proposed by Episcopal Schools of Maine would offer 12- to 13-hour days, with time allotted for students to clean the buildings, participate in sports and eat dinner. The schools would have small classes and high academic standards, and would instill structure and discipline.

“It’s not for everybody,” said Pam Hansen of Episcopal Schools of Maine. “I think the word we’d want to use is ‘rigorous.”‘

Students do not have to be Episcopalians to attend, but they would attend chapel and study world religions.

For the past three months, Episcopal Schools of Maine has held informational meetings at a half-dozen sites around Maine. The group said that both Episcopalian and non-Episcopalian parents at the meetings said they were interested in schools that offered strong discipline, a spiritual education and a longer school day.

“I think what we’re looking at is parents who are not entirely happy with the challenges in the public schools in Maine,” said Moorhead “Mike” Kennedy, another member of Episcopal Schools of Maine.