Schenck rebounds after impact of mill layoffs

Editor’s Note: Student Union’s weekly columns are a joint effort of the region’s high schools, the Bangor Daily News and Acadia Hospital. This week’s column was written by Schenck High School students. Their adviser is Charla Lowell.

Jan. 9, 2003, was a dark day in the shadow of Katahdin.

The overcast now has cleared somewhat, and although some confusion and uncertainty remain, there is a glimpse of sunshine, a ray of hope cutting through this long-lasting storm.

The closing and bankruptcy of Great Northern Paper in East Millinocket and Millinocket had a massive negative impact not only on the Katahdin region, but throughout the state.

Surrounding communities reacted with disbelief, and felt utter sadness. The economies of these towns plummeted, causing major financial concern, particularly related to meeting municipal costs.

The communities, however, stuck together: Churches opened and expanded food cupboards, neighbors helped each other, and funds swept in from the generosity of people statewide.

Countering this positive aid was the underlying fact: Our communities were in trouble.

A very clear emotion of concern was felt, particularly within the schools. It was first apparent at the end of January that their budgets might not last for the remainder of the year.

Special meetings were held, and townspeople of all ages flooded to them. Talk of consolidation, sending students on tuition to other school systems, and even rumors of abandoning Schenck for the remainder of the year were typical topics of conversation.

Students, for perhaps the first time in years, began voicing their concerns at public meetings. There was a feeling throughout our halls of a constant threat to our school’s vitality.

Junior Katie Bishop reflects, “When I heard that Schenck High School might actually be closed, I was very upset because I was almost finished with high school. With my dad being one of the laid-off employees, I did not want to move.”

Echoing the general confusion, senior Allison Fleming recalls, “I didn’t know what was going to happen!”

Finally, it was decided Schenck would remain open, at least for the remainder of the year. It was a scary time for students who were trying to focus on finals, fearing this would be the last year at their beloved school.

Even after hearing the news that Schenck would be open the following year, students left on the last day of school with a feeling of resentment and uncertainty. What if something was to fall through?

After a much-needed summer vacation, students returned to Schenck with a renewed positive outlook. Many of our parents had been hired back by the mill, and there was hope for our future in the schools. Plays continued, activities resumed.

Although the schools ran on a shoestring budget, we’ve made it through the year. Fleming explains, “I feel good now that I know I’m graduating from Schenck. It is a good school.”

This year is much different from the previous one. Students can prepare for finals and concentrate on they things they should – graduation, academics, and spring sports – without the uncertainty that was felt only a year ago.

Bishop expresses relief and gratitude: “Now that my dad is back to work, and I will be able to graduate from Schenck, I feel very fortunate that I will be able to finish where I started – in my hometown, where all of my friends are.”

Schenck High School lives on, playing a central role in three communities, in Union 113, affected by the Great Northern Paper shutdown. Our students are very fortunate and are looking forward to another year at their beloved school.

Schools participating in Student Union include Hampden Academy, Brewer High School, John Bapst Memorial High School, Old Town High School, Mount Desert Island Regional High School, Stearns High School in Millinocket, Nokomis Regional High School, Hermon High School, and Schenck High School in East Millinocket.