The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District Committee approved a $10,898,543 budget for fiscal year 2021-2022 June 9 setting a 6 p.m. June 23 public vote at the Boothbay Region Elementary School gymnasium. The committee took no vote on a contract for CSD teachers after a brief executive session following months of negotiations with Boothbay Region Education Association.

Five members of the public including three CSD teachers spoke to the challenges and sacrifices of teachers and staff for the committee's contract consideration. Alumna and parent Jennifer Hyson cited her children's experience over the past year with BRES teachers Deb Jones (third grade), Jordan Plummer (kindergarten) and Charlinda Carlson (K-3 resource room instructor) and social worker Tammy Blackman. Hyson also talked about personal experience with Boothbay Region High School teacher Chip Schwehm when she was a CSD student. “I was struggling with some concepts in the science class (Schwehm) was teaching at the time. He gave me a way to contact him at home over the weekend in case I would have any trouble with it. I took him up on it and he answered the phone and helped me through it. And I didn't feel uncomfortable about it at all.”

She said things have not changed since her days as a student in the CSD. Jones went above and beyond her duties for one of her sons who was struggling with online learning; she took extra time each week to make him a personalized packet to do most of the work by hand; Plummer and Carlson were there to take calls at night and on the weekend; and Blackman came in clutch taking night and weekend calls for her son with anxiety. “She was taking calls … when I was feeling like 'I don't know what to do.'”

Third grade teacher and parent Lacey Phelps and her spouse had hopes to enter summer break with a contract. At the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, Phelps said she had no idea what to do or what to expect and was overwhelmed with worry her students may not meet their benchmark.

“I'm happy to say that out of 22 students, I have two who are one level below benchmark and one who is almost there. All the others made benchmark because of their hard work and the hard work of the adults in that building … Everybody talks, shares and communicates and we do what's best for these kids … We are not in it for the paycheck, we are in it because we love it … We just want some security and some peace of mind going into the summer.”

BRHS science teacher Sherrie Hersom said the board should be aware CSD teachers have gone above and beyond their job description. When America watched the few examples of teachers shirking duty to head to the beaches, CSD teachers were reaffirming their willingness to go into the classroom even if it was before everyone could get vaccine, said Hersom.

“I tried to do lab work every day I had my kids because I wanted my students to have an edge over other people in our state and in our country … I hope the board considers that a lot of us go above and beyond what is asked of us … Our work doesn't end when the bell rings.”

Committee members approved shorter Wednesdays for BRES students in a 5-1 vote, Bruce MacDonald dissenting. BRES Principal Shawna Kurr explained the new schedule dismisses students at 12 p.m. instead of 1:30 p.m. so teachers can work on professional development for seven new curricula. Kurr said the early dismissal has worked this past year for the unique schedule due to the pandemic.

“This is coming out of what we need for our curriculum, so if we don't do it, we have teachers not getting the professional development they need ... Are we going to support Tier 1 student learning? If we don't, that has a significant impact to kids more than the hour and a half we're asking on Wednesday afternoons. The bang for the buck is big.”

The committee approved a late bus run for BRHS students. BRHS Principal Tricia Campbell said the school day will still begin at 7:30 a.m., but the extra bus run and new schedule accommodate traditionally time-constrained subjects like music and art. So, some students will choose to continue catching the bus at the usual time for those electives, but most will catch a second bus for all regular period classes, said Campbell. The impact to the transportation budget will not be significant according to Alternative Organizational Structure (AOS) 98 Director of Facilities and Maintenance Dave Benner, Campbell added.

“We've presented this a number of times over the past years, presentations by students and parents and community members advocating for later starts for high school students. What's in the best interest of kids that's supported by data? … Students at the high school level need more sleep … and it has been incredibly challenging to be able to allocate the time to build a cohesive and strong band and choral program. We have phenomenal talent here, but really it comes down to access for the kids and consistency to build those programs.”

The committee voted 4-2 for the change, Chair Stephanie Hawke and MacDonald dissenting.

The committee approved authority for the superintendent to apply for and expend federal funds and other grants; accepted responsibilities as fiscal agent for Southport Central School's federal title funds; and reelected Hawke and Vice Chair Peggy Splaine to their titles.

This article has been updated from its previous posting.