WOODLAND, Maine — The Union 122 school board held an informational meeting at the Woodland School Monday and a solid crowd of concerned citizens attended.
The topic of the meeting was the Union’s new exclusive multi-year contract with Washburn School Department (SAD 45). Woodland and Westmanland will be making the transition to Washburn this fall, but New Sweden school is still under contract with RSU 39 until fall 2016.
Travis Prashaw, chairman of the Woodland school board, made it clear at Monday’s meeting that it would be strictly informational and the board would not be answering any questions at that time.
Woodland residents sat through a PowerPoint presentation that showed what Washburn High School had to offer and the amount of money the Union would save by sending over their high school students.
The contract with Washburn could save Union 122 an estimated $804,357 over the next five years, according to the school board.
“These are real numbers,” Prashaw said. “The cost savings could help keep our elementary schools open.”
The school board reassured parents that the 27 students already enrolled at Caribou High School can stay. But each student from the Union will have to obtain an approved superintendent agreement to be allowed to continue their schooling in Caribou, which Union leaders said they will approve.
There’s always a possibility the agreements could be turned down and then it would be up to the Caribou commissioner to overturn any decision.
“We’re not pulling kids who are currently going to Caribou High School,” Prashaw said.
The Union will hold superintendent agreement assistance meetings for current Caribou students on May 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again on June 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the superintendent’s office in Woodland.
Board member Wanda Anderson addressed Monday night’s crowd and told residents that the board’s decision to sign a contract with Washburn wasn’t made lightly, “The education will be the same as if they’re going to Caribou.”
“This decision is in the best interest of our students first and then to the taxpayer,” superintendent Karla Michaud said. “We want to keep Woodland and New Sweden schools open for years to come.”
Some parents found Monday’s meeting hard to swallow, “Why bother having a meeting if questions or comments weren’t allowed?” resident and parent Tracey Levesque said. Levesque has a child who’s going to be a senior next year and another in grade four.
“What they showed us is what every school in Maine has to offer – they’re just trying to fluff it up. Washburn isn’t my problem, they have amazing kids, and I understand the budget cuts, but I just think [the board] should have let us as a community have a voice.”
RSU 39 board members Kent Forbes and John Sjostedt were in the audience at the evening’s meeting. Sjostedt said that prior to the Union’s new contract with Washburn, RSU 39 renewed with them every three years.
“We want them back,” Sjostedt said. “They contribute academically, their numbers help increase our funding and allow us to offer a larger range of programs.”
At the end of the meeting Sjostedt looked defeated. He handed out packets of information that highlighted what Caribou High School had to offer. Tears welled in his eyes at the thought of losing the Union 122 students.
”The squeeze from the state is causing things like this to happen. This hurts,” he said.
The Union 122 school board will hold another informational meeting on Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in the New Sweden School cafeteria.
