PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Aroostook Retired Educators Association will meet Tuesday, Aug. 28, at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center.
Registration will begin at 11:00 am with a chicken dinner served at noon. The cost of the meal is $15. The guest speaker will be Rick Duncan representing the House of Comfort.
The July meeting was held at the University of Maine at Fort Kent with guest speaker Scott Voisine, dean of community education. He is responsible for K-16 education collaboration and the early college program.
In 2010-2011 Governor LePage encouraged growth in early college high schools, Voisine said. That year UMFK had two students enrolled in the program. In 2012 Rural U was born and subsequently grew to 1,200 students enrolled in the program statewide in 2018.
Voisine has also worked as a consultant to regionalization in area schools. The schools in the Saint John Valley are now at the top of the grant list because of the consolidation work they have already accomplished.
AREA members continue their community service platforms. Donations of non-perishable food items collected at each meeting are distributed to local food pantries.
The Bulging Backpack program continues to supply a chosen elementary school with needed school supplies. This year, two central Aroostook schools will benefit. On Sept. 11, Washburn and Woodland Elementary Schools will receive school supplies donated by retired educators.
