By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — With numerous policies being implemented and the reorganization of districts, school board members have witnessed a great deal of changes in the state of Maine’s education system over the past several years. On Dec. 19, one 10-year veteran of the Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 board spent his last meeting with the board reviewing more upcoming policy changes.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox
RSU 39 School Board members, from left, Clifford Rhome, Scott Willey and Dale Gordon, board chair, take a moment to reflect on Willey’s 10-year service with the board at his last meeting on Dec. 19. Gordon presented Willey with a recognition plaque.
Scott Willey first became involved with school board activity when he served as a member of the citizens committee that placed Franklin McElwain as superintendent of schools for Caribou. After Willey’s stint on that committee, the local businessman was encouraged to run for the Caribou school board, which has since been restructured to Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 and now includes Limestone and Stockholm.
Willey credited Sam Collins as the person who got him interested in becoming a member of the school board and praised Collins as being an excellent mentor.
A lifelong resident of the city, Willey and his children were educated in the Caribou school system. Willey’s youngest son, Tyler, is currently a senior at Caribou High School.
During Willey’s years on the board, he was active in the hiring of over half of the current teaching staff and all of the administrators, with the exception of one. He served as board chair for three years and on several committees. He has been a champion for making school buildings handicap-accessible and was instrumental in building Caribou High’s ski building and tennis courts.
“One thing that sticks out to me is how he’s always been there to represent the board,” McElwain commented at Willey’s last board meeting. “He’s attended graduations, school budget meetings, selectmen meetings, staff recognitions — he’s the voice of the board. He made an effort to be there and I know the staff has appreciated a board presence there. And we appreciate all that you have done,” McElwain advised Willey.
According to Willey, he decided to step down because coupling his board duties with the responsibilities to his business, Highway Tire, was becoming exhausting. Willey stated he is proud to have served on the board, however, and enjoyed the work, making his exit bittersweet.
“I fought back tears at the meeting,” Willey commented. “It was a privilege to work with such great board members and staff. They’re very professional and have made these past 10 years a great experience.”
Willey continued to praise the board, stating that they have always strived for quality members who have the school system’s best interest at heart.
Dale Gordon, RSU 39’s current board chair, presented Willey with a recognition plaque at the meeting and also praised his work on the board.
“It’s quite the illustrious career,” Gordon said.
Kent Forbes, a 10-year veteran of the board himself, who took the past year off, was re-elected to the board as Willey’s replacement. Forbes is a 1981 graduate of Caribou High School. He said he is looking forward to rejoining the board to help in any way he can with the education of the community’s children.
Forbes also had high praise for Willey.
“I have enjoyed all the years I worked with Scott,” Forbes said. “He will be missed.”
