Caribou High School has
much to offer Union 122
To the editor:
The RSU 39 Board of Education would like to take this opportunity to respond to the situation regarding tuition negotiations between RSU 39 and Union 122. This unfortunate turn of events has certainly caused us to reflect on the education we offer at Caribou High School and through this reflection we have come to the realization that Caribou High School offers a rigorous and comprehensive educational program for all students.
For many, many years Caribou High School has welcomed the students from Union 122. These students have on several occasions been Valedictorian, Salutatorian, presidents of classes and other school based organizations, and captains of athletic teams. Their positive contributions to the Caribou High School community cannot be measured.
During the last few months both Union 122 and RSU 39 worked diligently to negotiate a new tuition contract for the communities of Westmanland and Woodland. Both sides were mindful of the tumultuous economic climate that all schools in the State of Maine are currently facing. As expected, this commitment to our individual communities and to the education of our students made the negotiating process difficult at times. However, both sides stuck with it and continued to present offers to each other in an effort to come to an agreement.
RSU 39 presented two offers to the Union 122 team that accepted Union 122’s requested tuition price however both offers were denied and RSU 39 was informed in writing that Union 122 would be entering into an agreement with Washburn. Despite the legal right to enter into contracts with multiple school systems, Union 122 has opted to only enter into a contract with Washburn leaving RSU 39 with the heavy burden of making final decisions about the education of Union 122 students who wish to attend Caribou High School.
We understand the delicate situation for Woodland and Westmanland students especially those who are currently attending Caribou High School. RSU 39 has been contacted by several families from Woodland and Westmanland regarding the potential for their children to continue to attend CHS for the remainder of their high school years. This has created a tremendous amount of stress for the students who are currently enrolled at CHS and those who are passionate about attending the school. This is unfortunate and RSU 39 is exploring ways to alleviate the stress that students and families are feeling.
RSU 39 is absolutely dedicated to ensure that our current students do not have to transfer to another high school. We are exploring all options that might be available to make sure that those students continue attending CHS. We are confident that we will be able to make that work and are hoping to inform families of this in the very near future.
RSU 39 is extremely proud of Caribou High School and all that it offers the students who attend there. As you may have already heard CHS has just embarked in a new Dual Enrollment Partnership with the University of Maine at Presque Isle. CHS students have the opportunity to earn high school credit while at the same time earning college credits that will be accepted at any University of Maine College. These classes will be taught by existing CHS staff at a 90 percent reduced tuition rate. This speaks volumes to the rigorous programming offered day in and day out at CHS.
Caribou High School’s record of excellence is also reflected in the many Advanced Placement classes that are offered. These classes are not offered online but with Advanced Placement Certified Teachers. CHS values the face-to-face interaction between students and teachers and RSU 39 is committed to being sure that these classes are taught by these highly qualified individuals. The connection between the Caribou Regional Technology Center and CHS both physically and in the working relationship between the two schools is a model around the state. Students can access the Technology Center without even leaving the building therefore not requiring students to give up valuable class time due to travel to and from the center.
Caribou High School has a one-of-a-kind Transitions Center that is staffed by three certified and highly qualified teachers. This center is open for all students throughout the school day. Not only do they provide additional instruction for students who are struggling, they also provide SAT prep, Accuplacer Testing, Early College Enrollment and many other offerings to engage students in their learning and future planning.
Caribou High School also provides students with many opportunities to become active in the school through athletics, clubs and organizations. There are over 20 extracurricular and co-curricular offerings available to students. Our music program is highly respected throughout the state as well as our National Honor Society and athletic teams. Our on-campus facilities for our student athletes are unmatched by many high schools throughout the state. The Nordic skiing trail system and the alpine ski hill are unmatched anywhere in the state.
In closing, we are saddened that we have not yet been able to reach an agreement with the communities of Woodland and Westmanland despite agreeing to their original tuition offer. However, we are dedicated to finding opportunities to include the students from the communities of Union 122 in all grades, not just high school students. We believe that RSU 39 schools offer an outstanding education to its students that includes a rigorous curriculum, a supportive environment, and a wide array of extracurricular and co-curricular opportunities.
Eastern Aroostook RSU 39
Board of Education
John Sjostedt (Stockholm) – Chair
Kent Forbes (Caribou) – Vice-Chair
Tanya Sleeper (Caribou)
Jan Umphrey-Tompkins (Caribou)
Ron Willey (Caribou)
Michelle Albert (Limestone)
Clifford Rhome (Limestone)
Woodland Select chair weighs in
To the editor:
I walked out the double doors of Woodland Consolidated School with tears in my eyes! I graduated from Caribou High School, with tears in my eyes! I now sit as chairman of the board of selectman in Woodland. It’s my home town and I live around friends I’ve known my whole life!
Over the years, I’ve come to know the fine folks in Washburn. I’ve enjoyed the way their community comes together to support their kids and I admire their grit to hold on to their school system. Wouldn’t it be great if we could tell a nice story, warm the heart and balance our community’s budgets with opinions and nostalgia? But we can’t! Change comes hard and sometimes the best decisions aren’t the most popular ones, at first!
Citizens of Woodland … your school board didn’t sell you short! They tried with everything they had, to be the voices of reason. Caribou proved to be, not good listeners! For five months, Woodland’s board chased Caribou’s board and Caribou was always too busy! So rather than just sit back and watch Caribou take the high road and walk all over our integrity, it’s time to call a spade, a spade! You see good business men are great politicians, because they know how to look out for their own interests! When it comes to fair apportionment to the average taxpayer it seems, they sometimes are not so good!
Imagine what Caribou might be like if the powers that were, said yes to the Aroostook Centre Mall, Lowe’s Home Depot, and Tractor Supply! Now they have said no to Union 122 students! A Caribou City Councilman stood up and said “we don’t need the Union 122 kids, go ahead and send them to Washburn.”
Shame on you Caribou, you taught me better than that! The only thing you’ve said yes to is a highway that totally bypasses all of your businesses. Caribou is full of wonderful people that deserve a government that works for the taxpayer, not just the deep pockets of special interests!
You, Caribou, forced us into negotiations for a future for our students! Woodland, New Sweden and Westmanland should not feel guilty for that. In the past three years Union 122 has sent $1.8 million to your community’s school system. I wish I knew you didn’t need us three years ago! That’s hard to hear if you’re a Woodland taxpayer. Those tax dollars come hard. The cutbacks by the state of Maine have affected the pocketbooks of all surrounding communities!
I’m also disappointed in the unprofessional way some of Caribou’s teachers have pulled these kids into the middle of this, like it’s a bad divorce! Planting seeds of doubt in their minds about education quality, class size and ratings. I’d be curious to know why Caribou students are seeking superintendent’s agreements to go to Presque lsle High School? Does this have anything to do with accreditation or the lack thereof?
Union 122 has provided Caribou High School many Valedictorians, Salutatorians and talented athletes throughout the years. Many talented students! Our children are high achievers! They come to you, having earned their way to the top — no entitlement — they earn it! I believe that our children will thrive anywhere they attend school! I also believe that they will make any school they attend look good academically!
I am very proud of our students and I hope that one day, they will look back, and see, that we did the best we could do — by sending them where they were wanted! I hope this becomes a lesson of integrity and self worth.
This has turned into a situation that when apples are compared to apples, we find out that Washburn spends more money on its students and Caribou’s general fund is bled dry by administration! These negotiations failed because Caribou could not meet their own deadlines. Now, of course, Caribou has come back with an offer after the deadline, after we have given our word and signed our papers. This is a prime example of too little, too late! In these negotiations, Caribou, you’ve treated us badly … I believe the term is bullied!
Why would we pick up this apple off the ground and bite between the worm holes, when we’ve been offered one right off the tree? Our School Board and Superintendent have managed to negotiate a deal with Washburn that saves Woodland’s taxpayers nearly $1 million, over the next five years. This deal is also about self preservation and guarantees our K-8 will exist for another decade or two. This deal secures the mighty mil rate and allows us to invest in ourselves, our children’s future!
If Caribou is going to profess to “care about kids”, there are 52 weeks in a year, Caribou, not just one week in the summer to wave your flag! I’m proud of our School Board and Superintendent, and thank them for their tireless efforts. I’m proud of our students and will be watching out for them. So, for the children that seek superintendent’s agreements to go to Caribou High School, Caribou, please don’t give them a lesson in poor sportsmanship, just because your powers that be have proven to be poor negotiators!
Thomas Drew
Select Chair
