Parents with children attending schools in the county's unorganized territories (UT) of Trescott, Cathance and Marion recently received letters of sudden and unexpected changes that could have an impact on which schools their students attend. Education in the UT (EUT) Director Shelley Lane sent letters to families with elementary students notifying them that as of the start of the 2016/2017 school year their children will be attending Edmunds Consolidated School.
     High school students are affected as well. In another letter, Lane notified families that beginning with the new school year busing for high school students would only be available to Washington Academy. The EUT pays for the busing, not WA. "All other routes will be discontinued. As a high school student the EUT supports educational programs via tuition dollars to any public approved high school as long as you communicate with me and we put in place an alternative placement. This placement secures tuition but does not provide transportation." She added, "Unlike most other UT areas there are multiple bus routes taking children to and from multiple school areas... As I look at the overall transportation expenses I must review this region."
     Wanda Kirshman's daughter attends Shead High School as an Edmunds resident. She'll be a junior when the new plan rolls out. "I have to try to figure out transportation," says Kirshman. She and her daughter are in agreement that Shead is the right place to remain. "I don't want to switch her when she's becoming a junior." The mother notes that she told Lane of her concerns. "I told Shelley [Lane] that some kids just aren't made for big schools; they need the one‑on‑one." She points out that it won't be just Edmunds high school children affected by the change in busing. High school students from Dennysville and Pembroke use the existing bus runs as well.
     However, Lane notes that in a conversation with an area superintendent she was told that the school board had asked why a bus run only contained five students. "We're doing what other districts in the state are doing -- evaluating bus routes" and other services.
     The funding formula for high school costs paid for by the EUT is different from the more familiar AOS formula used by area municipalities. Lane explains that the EUT pays whatever high school tuition is formulated annually and charged. For instance WA has a higher tuition rate than Shead High School, and with an Eastport‑based family sending its child to WA, that family would have to make up the difference in tuition, with its municipality paying the base cost. The EUT will pay the full amount of WA tuition, with the state's UT taxpayers footing the bill.
     The question of whether or not families have school choice if they live in the UT is being raised by Lane's changes. In response to questions from parent Penny Guisinger of Trescott, who has children attending the Whiting Village School, Lane clarified the Department of Education (DOE) position on UT school choice. "It is a common misunderstanding that UT students have choice. Actually they do not. Each UT is assigned a school system and transportation is provided. The Trescott area, for some reason over time, has spread out into different systems. I did not come to this decision easily or swiftly. I have been two years reviewing the area school's programs and busing."
     Referring to the Maine statute governing school eligibility, Guisinger suggests that it is silent on the issue of UT school choice. Rep. Will Tuell of East Machias is aware of the DOE's position and explains that the first priority is to sort out where families will be sending their children, then address the legislative steps that would need to be taken to clarify the question of school choice in the UT.
     Guisinger points out that no public notification or input was sought during the two years of review. Kirshman says, "I am very upset," by the lack of outreach to UT families during the review period. Lane explains that it is not part of the state's UT protocol to include a public input process for this type of change. She also notes that when people choose to live in the UT they also choose to live with a different type of governance. While she agrees that there is a lack of voice in terms of town meetings and other local forums for governance with the UT format, she feels that the notification letters sent to parents has given them a voice. "We listen when people call," she says, and she encourages parents to call her to discuss their particular child's educational needs.
     The Edmunds Consolidated School is one of three schools in the statewide UT, with the other two being the Connor Consolidated School in Aroostook County and the Kingman Elementary School in Penobscot County. Lane says that about 24 elementary school children will be switching over to Edmunds, and about six high school students who are not already going to WA would be sent to the East Machias private school. Four attend Shead High School and two attend high school in Machias. Of the six high school students, Lane has spoken with some parents to make arrangements for them to stay at their current school. "For some students there will be no disruption in their school and transport."
     She adds that of the calls she has received from families of elementary students a number of them have been positive in their interest in the change once they learned more about it. "I would never ask parents to send children to attend a school that was not up to par. Edmunds is a solid institution, and that's something they will learn." She adds that the elementary school will be holding a "meet and greet" day on Wednesday, May 18, at 6 p.m.
     Rep. Tuell, Rep. Joyce Maker of Calais and Senator David Burns of Whiting are aware of the issues and are working to set up meetings for concerned families and community members. Tuell notes that one of the meetings will most likely concentrate on how families can write appeal letters for the elementary school issue, and a second meeting to be conducted with Acting Commissioner of Education William Beardsley for a broader discussion of the issues at hand.