“I don’t miss anything about the old school,” asserted eighth-grader Krystal Randlett though some teachers, staff, and students did voice nostalgia for the intimate features of the old summer cottage mansion converted in 1954 to a school building. Physical Education teacher and Athletic Director Andrew Leach, who attended Islesboro Central School (ICS) from first grade through his senior year in 2001, said he always liked the fact that his school was different from other schools, and observed, “It doesn’t feel like a completely new school. I can still feel the old school that I remember.”
Notable changes included widening the hallways to the legal standard for school buildings, making the building fully handicapped accessible, adding a music, foreign language arts room, an art room and expanding the gymnasium to regulation size. Insulation and an efficient heating system mean the school will be warmer this winter. More windows have opened the second floor western facing walls to new light. Many rooms have a spectacular view of Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills.
Music teacher John Oldham, who has one of the new rooms, says, “The music room is working out fine. I have heat, I have space. The room is sound-treated. The kids are enthusiastic.” In fact, the room has a sound-proofed practice room so that a student learning a new instrument can make mistakes in private.
Sixth grader Olivia Olson said, “It was really cool that the old school was a mansion,” but she added, “I like it that the hallways are wider, and it is way, way more safe because we have a sprinkler system, and emergency exiting is better in case of a fire.”
Several students and staff mentioned the benefits of the wider hallways. Reading Specialist Katie Nelson said that classroom changes were quieter and with lockers spread out there is less chaos. Math Teacher Tom Tutor said that the crowded hallways used to be intimidating for the little kids with upperclassmen towering over them. Custodian Dick Cilley remarked that the first year he was on staff a wheelchair ran into him in the narrow halls. He is delighted to have a fresh clean facility that will be easier to keep clean although he noted it could use more storage space.
Seniors Jason Hatch and Gerard Scherr really like the new gym. Jason said the regulation-sized gym meant that the basketball team could play preliminary games at home instead of having to travel. Tenth-grader Alexandra Craig said it was going to be great to play against teams who trained in the same sized gym as the ICS teams.
Eleventh grade magnet-student Dashiel Marley praised the insulation and said the classrooms are bigger and have better light. Seventh-grader Jacob Howell also likes the bigger classrooms. “Before if you wanted to get up out of your desk you had to ask the person in back of you,” he said. Eighth-grader Amy Cushman appreciates new quiet places for study, “Like the room off the science room.” The science room itself was upgraded and has sinks and benches for student lab work.
Sandy Oliver is a freelance writer on Islesboro.