Chebeague Island residents now have a new appreciation for the tenuous situation of small island schools. The community learned in February that MSAD 51, of which the island school is part, had proposed to move the Chebeague Island fourth and fifth graders to the mainland North Yarmouth Memorial School.

Particularly frustrating for islanders was that they were not included in the dialogue between community members and MSAD 51.

The proposal was included in the MSAD 51 2005-2006 budget because the district is planning to reconfigure its elementary school grades into a K-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12 school plan.

MSAD 51 superintendent Dr. Bob Hasson said, “moving the island students into a mainland school when all the other fourth grade students in the district will be changing buildings as well would make the transition to a larger mainland school easier.”

In response, island parents said, “No Way!”

For eight- or nine-year-old fourth graders, the change would mean waking up at 6 or 6:30 in the morning, getting on a cold boat at 7:15, and riding across the Casco Bay for 20 minutes — or longer — in all kinds of weather. They would then get onto a bus to take them to school, where they would wait for their school day to begin. The ride home would reverse the process.

The Rural School and Community Trust has found that young students dealing with this type of routine tend to be tired at school and do not do as well as students who do not face the same travel ordeals.

Creativity

Chebeague residents love their school and the creativity it inspires in their children. For example, this winter, Bowdoin College anthropology students and Prof. Anne Henshaw are working with Chebeague students to create a website about their community and its rich lobstering heritage. The Bowdoin students go to the island school once a month to help children formulate interview questions for lobsterman, do research on community buildings and residents, and learn new technology skills.

In addition, these elementary students are exposed to college life, visiting the Bowdoin campus and working one-on-one with students and professors.

Thanks largely to overwhelming community support and activism, MSAD 51 decided to take the proposal to move the fourth and fifth graders to the mainland off the budget for the coming school year. But the school board would like to revisit the issue in the coming years. Island residents hope that in the future, proposals such as this will be introduced to the community first, and that an open dialogue between island residents and the school district will create an atmosphere of respect and the opportunity for creative solutions.