Dear Editor:

I notice through the Register that Boothbay Region High School is working toward NEASC accreditation renewal. Having been the chairman of over 30 of these accreditation evaluation committees in the south through the NEASC equivalent SACS, as well as leading schools through a half-dozen of the studies themselves, I have seen first-hand the positive impact resulting from the continuing accreditation study process involved. But only if there is active participation by members of the community at-large.

Accreditation standards dictate that is necessary. But often schools minimize the advertising for volunteers, and the numbers of community members who are involved on the individual committees. I hope that doesn't happen in Boothbay.

For the "report card" offered by the Visiting Committee (fall '16) is actually only the aftermath in terms of relative importance to the school and community. It’s the process itself, and the goodwill and spreading of the word of what is going on in their school(s) and how this process develops a blueprint for the future that benefits the school and thus the entire community the most. I encourage the school and Register to work together on publishing a written summary of each individual committee’s report as they conclude their deliberations.

Dennis C. Brown

Villa Rica, Georgia

and Boothbay