Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – More Presque Isle High School seniors worked during this year’s potato harvest than they have the last 10 years.
According to statistics shared at the Nov. 12 SAD 1 board of directors meeting, 58 seniors performed harvest-related work. In 2004, 54 seniors worked, while 48 worked in 2000. This year’s harvest-related jobs included barrel loader, handpicker, harvester, potato grader, potato house, school farm, soil sampler, truck driver, windrower and babysitter for parents so they could work in the fields. In total, 141 PIHS students, or 24.2 percent, did harvest-related work earning $171,449. By comparison, 145 students (22.7 percent) worked last year and earned $178,505.
Of the various jobs students could perform, the majority of them worked on the potato harvester. Records show that 54 students worked on a harvester, while 22, for example, picked potatoes by hand.
Survey results show that 19 freshmen worked in the fields, 14 did non-harvest work, and 113 did not work at all. Twenty-eight sophomores performed harvest work, 21 did other work, while 97 were unemployed.
Thirty-six juniors did harvest-related work, 46 did non-harvest related work, while 60 didn’t work at all, and 58 seniors worked in the fields, 66 did other work, and 25 did not have jobs.
By comparison – in 2000 – 171 students performed harvest-related work, 258 did non-harvest related work, while 260 were unemployed. Five years ago (2004), 144 students worked in the fields, 206 did other jobs, and 291 did not work.
Superintendent Gehrig Johnson reminded directors that the board agreed several years ago to revisit the potato harvest issue if the percentage of students doing harvest-related work got down to 15 percent.
“The board voted several years ago that they would bring this topic up for a full review if the percentage of harvest-related work dropped to approximately 15 percent,” he said. “With 24.2 percent of the students working, there was no motion or move this year to have a full review.
“I interpret the board’s action as continued support for the potato harvest for another year,” said Johnson.
The next regular SAD 1 board meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 at the PIHS board conference room.
