The monthly Southport School Committee meeting was well attended May 11 when the committee, Principal Lisa Clarke and Superintendent Keith Laser were joined by fourth, fifth and sixth grade teacher Shawn Gallagher and five of his sixth graders.

At last month’s meeting, Clarke brought up the sixth grade trip. This year’s trip, a two-night, three-day stay at Adventure Bound in Caratunk, was cancelled last month due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clarke proposed this year’s graduates be allowed to join next year’s sixth grade trip. “It would be a celebration of their time at Southport and a reunion for the children.” The committee was sympathetic, but, before voting, recommended inviting the children to speak.

So Abby Amaral, Sarah Harris, Eleanor Marshall, Cameron Payson and Ella Watts came to this month’s meeting to speak on behalf of the class.      

Amaral said, while there was no avoiding the cancellation, that decision was not “because of anything we did.”

Marshall said, “The trip needed to be cancelled but it means that we don’t get the experience. If we were able to go next year instead, we could have the experience and we could all get together again.”

Harris agreed, saying, “Some of us might be going to different middle schools next year and it would be nice for all of us to come back together.” And Payson said, “Canceling the trip does mean we’re going to miss out on the opportunity to be all together one last time.”

In closing for the group, Watts said, “Next year there’ll probably only be two sixth graders so if we can go with them they’ll have more fun, too.” Gallagher agreed. “With such a small group, next year’s sixth graders will definitely get more out of it if they’re joined by this year’s class,” he said.

After hearing from the students, Vice Chair Kathy Tibbetts applauded them for being “such great troopers and for your maturity in the face of this.”

The committee unanimously accepted the proposal: Southport’s Class of 2020 will join the class of ’21 for the Adventure Bound trip next year.

In other business, Chair Adam Harkins reported that work should begin on the school’s boiler replacement before the end of the month. Laser confirmed food service would continue through June 12. The last delivery will be June 10 and will include three days of breakfast and lunch. The summer meals program through Healthy Lincoln County will start Monday, June 15 with pick-up locations throughout the county; delivery will not be available through the summer program.