St. Agnes in Pittsfield

Regarding the article, “Catholic school future in limbo” (BDN, Aug. 7-8).

St. Agnes Catholic School in Pittsfield is one of the best elementary schools within a 100-mile radius. Bangor Daily News reporter Sharon Kiley Mack implied that St. Agnes provided a pretty darn good education, but she only told part of the story.

In fact, St. Agnes students excelled in all major categories in the recent Stanford Standard School tests. Fourth-graders scored in the 70th percentile against national peers, fifth-graders in the 80th percentile, and seventh- and-eighth-graders in the 90th percentile. The longer you’re there apparently the better you get.

Administrators at both Nokomis Regional High School and Maine Central Institute have commented in the past on how well prepared St. Agnes students are for high school work; and yet there is talk of closing the school.

Why is St. Agnes so successful? Why does it provide such a high-quality education?

The basic principle of respect for others (sometimes called discipline) is part of the reason; the dedication of the professional and support staffs, and the very active involvement of the parent groups are the mainstays of St. Agnes’ success story. Now is not the time to be thinking of closing this Pittsfield asset.

With Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield is accustomed to excellent alternative education. Support for St. Agnes’ fund-raising efforts will help keep this very important asset here in our local area. If you’re really interested in keeping this success story in Pittsfield please write to: Most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Portland, 510 Ocean Ave., P.O. Box 11559,

Portland 04104-7559, and tell him you want St. Agnes to remain in our community.

It’s important to our community to keep St. Agnes in Pittsfield.

Kevin S. Flanigan

Pittsfield