Monson plans ways to keep school open

MONSON – Local residents plan to be prepared in the event SAD 68 directors decide to close their small elementary school, the only district school left outside Dover-Foxcroft.

A small group of residents began plotting a way to keep the school open after SAD 68 Superintendent John Dirnbauer convened an informational meeting in January to discuss the district’s five-year strategic plan. The first objective addressed under facilities in the plan is the consideration and discussion of the future of the Monson Elementary School.

Residents believe that is a prelude to the same decision met by Charleston residents when their local school was closed last year.

“Our only concern is to keep the school open; that is a priority,” committee member Brenda Clawson said Thursday. “We really don’t want to lose our identity.” A survey will be included in property tax bills seeking direction from residents about future schooling, including tuitioning the children to SAD 4 schools which is closer to Monson than Dover-Foxcroft schools, and the possibility of opening a private nondenominational Christian school.

Clawson said the closing of the school would create major issues for the community. She said there could be economic challenges for the town, that the town could face an increased mill rate to support the proposed new construction or addition to the Morton Avenue Elementary School, and that it would leave children with a lengthy bus ride to the schools in Dover-Foxcroft.

The 25-year-old Monson school needs about $100,000 in improvements, including a new boiler and roof work, which will be done, according to SAD 68 Superintendent John Dirnbauer. Little work is required on the addition to the school built in 1991.

But the condition of the school is not the sole issue, Dirnbauer said. “The biggest issue there is the number of kids going to school,” he said, Thursday. Last fall 52 children started school and 44 finished the year. He predicted next year’s enrollment will be 42 to 44 pupils. Because of the dwindling number of children, looking toward the future is the responsible thing to do, he said.

Although he did not rule out the closure, Dirnbauer said the earliest such a move could be made would be in 2006 when the new or renovated Morton Avenue Elementary School project is completed. He confirmed that the project is being built to allow the addition of extra rooms, if necessary.