The Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Community School District School Committee and Board of Trustees talked big ideas on the future of the schools Feb. 28. Superintendent Keith Laser launched the workshop with wisdom from Scott Brown, Director of School Construction for Maine's Department of Education: Find a planner who can base an enrollment projection on the region's economics and amenities and find an architect who specializes in school buildings to draft a renovations-repurpose plan based on the community's wants and needs.

Trustees Chair Richard Hallinan and Committee Chair Larry Colcord agreed it would be nice to know the schools' options and it might be beneficial to have fresh, expert eyes look at all the possibilities for Boothbay Region Elementary School and Boothbay Region High School.

When trustee Ronnie Campbell said enrollment decline might be in a waxing and waning cycle, the boards considered Laser's observation that a planner specializing in enrollment projections might be a good investment considering DOE's Brown ballparked the service at $3,000 to $4,000. The boards asked Laser to find a school architect for the board to meet and question since that project would likely cost more than $50,000.

Committee member Bruce MacDonald suggested the boards keep the idea of education as a civic responsibility at the backs of their minds. Member Kari Babcock said students, parents and teachers need to be in on discussions. Trustee Steve Lorrain said he would reach out and encourage business leaders and other community members to group together and identify tools in educating the region's students.

Committee member Stephanie Hawke said there used to be serious interest in Boothbay from international students. BRHS Principal Dan Welch said the interest died down when the schools and towns could not solve boarding issues. Hawke said that in 2014, there was talk about how to use the land donated by Mike Hammond. The solution is a no-brainer, she said: It could be used to build housing for international students, and for summer workers after students have left for break.

Welch and BRES Principal Mark Tess said there is a growing offering of classes centered around science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

“I think what you're talking about is truly an expeditionary-type learning structure,” said BRES Assistant Principal Tricia Campbell. “It's student-driven with multiple pathways where they're making connections and using resources and investigations in the community, where they're putting their hands on things, they're interacting to lead their interests and then offer paths for them to pursue. It's very doable in a standard public school.”

Lorrain added that with the future of technology hinting toward green energy like solar, wind and tidal, there could be a class on that alone. Trustee Troy Lewis said it could be an entire program.

Said Lewis, “Between the Botanical Gardens, Bigelow, the state lab that's down here, I think you've got a great opportunity if you wanted to make a curriculum around conservation and renewable energy. I think you could have a very attractive school that could bring in students. Everything's here to do it and I think you'd have the support … to build something like that.”

However, with news that the CSD would be receiving less money from the state through the Essential Programs and Services, Lewis asked how the schools can afford to bring in the cutting edge programs.

Laser said it comes down to connections with the community, other institutions and businesses and the Department of Education. At the latest superintendents’ meeting, Laser said he talked with a colleague who was boasting of students sometimes graduating with 30 credits toward their degree, and about an aviation program. Laser asked if BRHS could partner with those programs.

Said Laser, “The possibilities really are endless at what we can do, but not if we have to teach what we did in the industrial age model and not if we teach in the same way … It is hands on, kids need to be engaged and that's why they're clamoring to get into these (hands-on) classes.”