Private academy possible in Katahdin region

Editor’s Note: Student Union is written by students at Hampden Academy, Brewer High School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Old Town High School, MDI High School, Ashland Community High School and Schenck High School in East Millinocket. The weekly column is a joint effort among the schools, the Bangor Daily News and Acadia Hospital. This week’s column was written by Schenck High School students. Their adviser is Eric Steeves.

A dramatic decline in state funding for education has led many school systems across the state to cut programs and teachers for next year. In the Katahdin region, the decline in state revenues along with the bankruptcy of Great Northern Paper Inc. have caused school boards to consider implementing drastic measures in order to provide educational opportunities for students.

One option being explored is to close Schenck High School and tuition students to Stearns High School in Millinocket. Such a move, if adopted, could result in the loss of between 25 and 30 educational positions, and leave several communities in School Union 113 looking for other educational options.

One option that has received a great deal of attention is an effort by numerous local residents to build and operate a private academy in the town of Medway.

A group of local businesspeople, teachers, retired school administrators and concerned residents met several months ago to look into the possibility of establishing a small, private, secondary school in proximity to area schools.

The group, known as the Katahdin Valley Education Association, has met with town councils and school boards in the area to inform them of their plan. More meetings are planned and interest in this plan is gaining strength.

According to association secretary Dale Fiske, a technology teacher at Schenck High School, the response to the association has been overwhelming and the concept of a private academy in the area has been gaining momentum with each passing day.

Fiske states, “The reason why we are moving forward with the academy is because the economic vitality of our region is dependent on its educational system. With tremendous cuts in local and state and local aid forecast for next year, it is imperative that more educational options be presented to the public.”

Peter Faloon, a physics teacher at Schenck who has two children in the local school system and is vice chairman of the association, said, “I believe the region needs another educational option for students and we are planning on offering a unique curriculum that focuses on environmental science.”

Faloon hopes to have the school open by the fall of 2003 and is working to purchase land next to Interstate 95 in Medway to build the school. The board has written to private philanthropists and has applied for grants to secure funding for the academy.

In addition, the school will attempt to take advantage of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, which will offer vouchers to parents to pay for tuition to schools of their choosing.

Both Fiske and Faloon have been impressed by the outpouring of support they have received from residents, many of whom have volunteered to help build the school and-or make financial contributions to the effort.

“Many people in the region are concerned about the state’s efforts to push for big, impersonal, regional high schools and most people want to keep their children closer to home,” said Fiske.

However, quality of education and instruction is critical in order to convince residents that smaller schools are the answer. Both Fiske and Faloon and the rest of the committee are committed to attracting highly qualified and certified instructors and working with local colleges and the College Board to offer college credit and Advanced Placement courses.

“We want our students to excel and go on to postsecondary opportunities,” said Faloon.

The timetable for building a new academy is daunting. However, several meetings have been held to discuss using public buildings in the Katahdin area for the first year if the construction process is delayed. Plans are also in the works for recruiting international students, as well as students from across the state.

“If we build an academy that offers students a quality program with unique opportunities, both in terms of academics and co-curricular options, they will come,” said Fiske. Contracts for Department of Education approval already have been filed.

Schenck High School students have mixed feelings regarding the concept of a private academy in Medway. Geoffrey McDunnah, a junior at Schenck, recently said, “I would prefer to graduate from Schenck, but if it closes, I would rather attend the academy as I don’t really want to travel very far from town, and I like a small school better than a big one.”

On the other hand, junior Tyler Thompson questioned the need for another school in the area and said, “Considering the economic difficulties in our area, the timing for establishing another school is wrong.”

The chances of the academy opening next fall are looking favorable, and another educational choice for students and parents may be a tremendous asset for the entire Katahdin region.