SAD 1: ‘The Little Engine That Could’
To the editor:
Buckminster Fuller, architect, designed the geodesic dome as a way to do more with less.
The educators and administrators in MSAD 1 have had to do just that. Cuts upon cuts have had to be made down through the years as state and federal funding to help pay the costs of educating young people has been taken away due to financial shortfalls. Most heart warming is that teachers and auxiliary helpers have found ways to continue helping their students to excel in their learning.
Although the Board of Directors members have reluctantly accepted the fact that there would be a burden placed upon those teachers, they had to accept that personnel in this district had to do more with less. The monies to carry on some programs and activities would never come in. Hope for the restoration of those monies never came to fruition. We still hope.
Most heart warming is that the teachers, instead of giving up, have dug in finding ways to maintain excellence. That excellence has been rewarded by the honor of the high school and elementary schools being noted for excellence and financial efficiency as was recently announced.
Shortly investigators will be coming to this area (that is one way to get down-staters to dare to travel north of Bangor) to find out how “This Little Engine That Could”, did it. No doubt they will find a community cohesiveness is a factor. Many parents have contributed, quite freely, of their time to assist in the learning processes in what ever way they can. They will find that the administrators of the two post secondary educational institutions in this area work closely with the administrators of MSAD 1 to provide additional programs enabling students to take advanced courses within those institutions, and excel. Certainly, the business community has done its part. Other agencies have aided students who are having tough times by guiding them, and giving extra help to learn. Sometimes tough love has been extended to students needing an extra bit of attention and tutoring.
Most important is that the students are inspired to take advantage of what the school system has to offer, regardless of how easy or hard it is for them to do well. Last, but not least is the fact that this area does not have much in the way of detracting activities to siphon students’ attention.
As a parent of five students who have long since graduated from MSAD 1, I am grateful to the teachers of my sons and daughters. All five are doing very well, both in this country, and in foreign countries. If anyone is interested, stop me on the street, in the Mall, or in a store, and I shall tell you about them at the drop of a hint. In the meantime suffice it to say that I appreciate all the people involved in the educating of those sons and daughters. I appreciate all the time and efforts of the educators who are now being recognized by the investigative group charged with identifying Maine’s schools of excellence.
Ms. V. Dana Allison
Castle Hill
