SAD 1 discusses harvest, facility rentals 132 high school students worked during time off

PRESQUE ISLE – SAD 1 officials almost took another look at whether they should continue to schedule harvest break at the high school.

Board members rehashed the necessity of the three-week break – though the discussion never rose to the level of a formal motion to re-evaluate the fall dismissal – after Superintendent Gehrig Johnson gave a report on the annual harvest survey results during the board’s Wednesday night meeting.

SAD 1 begins the high school year in August and postpones classes for three weeks beginning in mid-September to allow students to work for local farmers who are bringing in their potato crop.

The numbers showed that 132 high school students, or about 20 percent of the high school, participated in harvest-related work this year.

The survey also showed that about 27 percent of students participated in nonharvest-related work and that about 52 percent did not work during harvest break. Johnson’s report showed that the number of students participating in harvest has steadily decreased in the last 10 years, with a minor spike in 2002.

In light of the fact that more than half the students are not working during the three-week break, school board member Pam Palm suggested the district re-evaluate whether to continue letting classes out for harvest.

Johnson responded that the board would have to “raise it as an agenda item” for the district to revisit the matter. It was about three years ago that the board formally reviewed the matter, he said.

Board member Barb Ladner said she was not interested in getting rid of harvest “as long as farmers tell me they need the workers.”

Board member Susan Cook suggested that school officials look at alternatives other school systems use, such as letting students out for only one week during harvest time. Board member Dana Allison suggested the district look at running a solid session during harvest, but breaking earlier in the day during harvest to allow teens to work during the afternoon and evening.

Other board members countered the suggestions, saying many farmers still rely on students to bring in their crops.

With no motion to move on the issue, the board moved on to another matter that stirred debate.

In considering a new policy on the community use of school facilities, board members were divided on how much the district should charge to allow groups to rent its auditoriums and gymnasiums.

The original policy set rental fees at $50 per hour for the Presque Isle High School and Presque Isle Middle School auditoriums and $17.50 per hour for any gymnasium or cafeteria in the district. At the board meeting, Johnson said that after talking with several people, officials agreed to change the fee for renting the auditoriums to $35 per hour.

Labor charges laid out in the policy, which Johnson said cannot be reduced, include paying SAD 1 employees required to work at 11/2 times their regular hourly rate and an additional fee of $50 per hour if lighting and sound-system use is required. As part of the policy, a member of the food services staff must be present if a kitchen is used by a renting group.

School officials pointed out that it has been 12 years since the district last adjusted its prices, which were at $10 to rent an auditorium and $3.50 to rent a gymnasium.

“We’re trying to protect the district so we don’t end up subsidizing any groups that come in,” Johnson said. “We’re not trying to make money off of anybody.”

Officials said the two main reasons the rental fees were brought back to the table were the fact that the middle school has a new, state-of-the-art auditorium and that energy prices have dramatically increased.

Board member Barb Ladner, who is involved in a community theater group, said the proposed fees were too high.

“We built this [new auditorium] for the community and for community use,” she said. “We need to make sure the community can use it.”

Board member Terry Sandusky countered that the district is trying to recover its costs when outside groups use the facilities and that a “really low” fee would eat into the operating budget.

Board member Andy Yaeger said he would like to see the fees looked at and for the district to consider renting the facilities for a lump sum as opposed to by the hour.

Sandusky moved that the district approve the policy as presented. The motion failed in a 5-6 vote. Yaeger subsequently moved that the superintendent’s office look at the fee schedule and come back with a new recommendation. The motion was unanimously approved.