It’s time for change on Bangor school panel

School systems across Maine are about to undergo massive transitions that will change the landscape of many of the state’s smallest communities. As consolidation plans pull school buildings farther from small communities, residents are going to have to find ways to ensure those communities remain an essential part of school life.

Schools are a vital part of any community, just as a community and its residents should be a vital part of any school system.

Which brings me to the Bangor School Committee.

Nomination papers became available last week for election to the committee. It remains unclear what, if any, changes will affect the Bangor school system as part of the state’s consolidation plan, but change is afoot here just the same.

There are two seats up for grabs, one belonging to vice chairman James Cox and the other to Phyllis Shubert, who is finishing up her 21st year on the committee.

Martha Newman has sat on the committee for 25 years. While her seat does not open up for two more years, she has promised that she will not seek another year as committee chairman, a position she has held for 17 years.

Meanwhile, Bangor Superintendent Robert “Sandy” Ervin has announced his plan to retire at the end of the next school year.

Here is the reality: Bangor is a huge school system and only a small portion of its community feels part of it.

That can change.

I’m not calling on those with specific agendas to run for the School Committee. This system is too big for that. Your son or daughter may need help in academic, social or athletic areas.

What our system needs is for level-headed, open-minded residents to agree to put in the time and energy needed to make our system a good system for not only the best and the brightest, not only for the most needy, but for all students.

Newman has sat on that board for a quarter of a century, saying she has ensured that the Bangor system provides academic excellence to its students.

The truth is, however, that the community has felt stymied in its ability to approach the committee, whether as individuals or as a whole.

New members on the committee feel useless because the most important agenda items seem to already have been decided prior to the meeting.

In other words, Newman and Ervin seem to make all of the important decisions that guide our school system.

If you, as a parent or a taxpayer, are OK with that, then I can’t say anything here to change your mind.

I have talked many times with Ervin and Newman. They certainly try to be intimidating because they have a lot of experience.

Newman and Ervin believe that they know best and that we, as parents or taxpayers, should not question them. They indicate that not only to the media, but to teachers, residents and to other School Committee members who dare to pose questions during committee meetings.

There are a couple of bright, enthusiastic committee members on board who believe that they are silenced because of decisions already made by Newman and Ervin.

I think Ervin and Newman may truly believe that they have the best answers for the Bangor school system. I don’t.

They are on their way out. That season is over.

It’s a time of change, and the right candidates, along with those who already took the plunge, can finally change the reputation of this committee.

Not all change is bad. Twenty-five years is long enough. It’s time for some new blood on the School Committee.

Renee Ordway can be reached at rordway@bangordailynews.net.