Recognition that the Islesboro Central School’s existence is “essential to the life of the community” was a major theme in a new “Vision Statement” for the school. ICS “supports the broader efforts of island residents to plan and maintain a vibrant, year-round, sustainable community,” declared the final version, assembled by a committee with the help from Planning Decisions, a Maine-based consultant group.
Specifically, the committee identified personalized learning; exposure to the diversity of people, places, cultures, and experiences of the wider world; life-long learning; technological literacy; and student, teacher, and community accountability as important characteristics of island education.
The vision statement and a report summarizing results of questionnaires sent to townspeople, school alumni, plus meetings with town organizations and officials and a final public workshop facilitated by Planning Decisions was presented to the school board the week before its Feb. 12 meeting. Vision Committee members John Oldham and Paula Mirk attended the meeting to answer questions. There were none from the board.
The vision committee served as an advisory board for the Islesboro school, with broad-based community involvement that sometimes challenged the current school structure and curriculum.
School committee member Michael Boucher proposed that the board seriously consider reassigning the Vision Committee with the task of developing an implementation plan. Board chair Cathy Dove-Adams said that they would discuss the vision statement at the next school board meeting.
Superintendent/Principal Michael Wright then passed out to the committee a proposal he developed for a strategic planning committee that would develop steps to implement the vision statement. He characterized his proposal as “one person’s thoughts about how to handle the next phase.” Board member Fred Rollins suggested that students be added to the proposed committee, which, as presented, would weight the committee heavily with school and school board personnel.
The vision committee was charged by the school committee in June 2007 to develop a kind of comprehensive plan for education on the island. Consisting of teachers, residents, parents, town officials and students, the vision committee met twice or more a month. It sponsored public forums at which educators from around the state described what new directions education is taking, and what the learning characteristics are of what is known as the “millennial generation.” Questionnaires revealed what the community valued in the school already and what were their hopes and expectations for the future.
At the time of the vision committee’s charge, there was a question whether the current school building would be renovated or replaced by a new structure. Since then, architects and engineers have advised that the school building can be successfully repaired and renovated. The school board is proceeding with those plans. q