ORONO, Maine -– The RSU 26 board elected Orono representative Lisa Buck to serve as board chairwoman on Wednesday night, just hours after Chairwoman Alison Mitchell resigned from her post.
Mitchell, of Orono, stepped down from the board earlier in the day, saying in her resignation letter that she has been “attacked and undermined from many directions” during contentious budget discussions.
In an effort to close an estimated $2 million budget shortfall, the board began budget talks last fall and attempted to decide what cuts to make to close the gap. Now the board has more money available than originally thought and contentious decisions about what to cut have been replaced by heated discussion about what to save.
One of the most contentious issues was resolved Wednesday when the board voted to reinstate the principal positions at Orono Middle School and Asa C. Adams School. The decision was met with applause from an audience made up mostly of Orono parents and teachers.
The board had voted in late March to eliminate the positions, with plans to replace them with one K-8 principal.
The board then approved Glenburn’s recommendations of what to restore to the budget, which include a portion of the librarian’s position, an educational technician and math textbooks, among others. The total amount Glenburn will put back into the budget is $132,355.
Veazie’s budget restoration requests also were accepted.
These votes came after hours of arguments and debates among members of the board who decried inequities in proposed cuts. On several occasions, disputes had to be interrupted by other members of the board.
During public comments, Deborah White, a technology teacher in Asa C. Adams School, criticized the board for lack of tact in email conversations.
John Lucy, an attorney and brother of Orono Middle School Principal Robert Lucy, said he believed eliminating the two Orono administrators would have resulted in a breach of contract and possibly litigation if the board didn’t restore the positions.
The board went into executive session early in the meeting to consult with an attorney.
In a letter obtained by the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday afternoon, Alison Mitchell said attacks against her by members of the public and the school board during the past year prompted her decision to resign.
Printouts of an email distributed by a member of the public during the meeting reveal some of the tension that has boiled over among members of the board this year.
On Tuesday — the day after Orono board representatives held a meeting that was “fraught with emotion,” according to Buck — emails were exchanged among several members of the board.
In one email, Buck wrote, Mitchell “really is obliged to honor our consensus. If she doesn’t, I will be ready to pounce.”
Fellow Orono representative Leo Kenney took offense to that comment, arguing it could be “considered an attempt to threaten, harass and bully fellow board members.”
Buck quickly responded with an apology.
Mitchell said in her resignation letter that she was “a passionate supporter of the formation of this RSU and believed firmly that great things could come of the union” and has been saddened to see things “disintegrate” during the past six months.
Mitchell said she has “come to the reluctant conclusion that the dissolution of the RSU is in the best interest of all three towns involved.” The school district is made up of Orono, Veazie and Glenburn schools.
Mitchell did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday afternoon.
“Serving the Orono community has been a great privilege. I am sorry to see it end this way,” she said.
The Orono Town Council appointed Wayne Scott to fill Mitchell’s vacant seat. Scott was elected last month to take Mitchell’s spot when her term was set to expire later this year. Scott attended Wednesday’s school board meeting.
It’s sad to say it but I think we as a people have fallen so far into ourselves, our wants and our own desires that we are now totally unable to ever see the greater good for all. I haven’t seen any of these conjoined systems express much satisfaction. I’ve heard a good deal of complaining and seen 1st hand how some systems have come to abuse those they have joined with. For this reason towns that have joined with others probably would be wise to split and those who haven’t yet joined with others would be best served by protecting what they have rather than allowing others to take advantage of them. Politics on a small scale seems to be just as bad as it is in Washington. When will we learn that politics and politicians should be kept as far from education as possible? My guess, never.
the flaw in the liberal left thinking, “the greater good” cannot be taken,, by this local school board or any other level of government. the greater good can only be given by those who willingly share what they have.
Merge with Old Town.
Unfortunately I do not think that will ever work
It could but why let good sense get in the way of some perceived rivalry.
It seems Old Town was willing to explore the opportunity several years ago and an agreement was even struck with the state and UMaine for the construction of a regional high school. Orono, however, balked at the idea and decided to take its chances with Veazie/Glenburn. The Old Town school system and the Old Town/Alton/Bradley RSU have had their finances managed very well which has resulted in a pretty successful consolidation. The Orono/Veazie/Glenburn RSU, on the other hand has sputtered. Old Town is now in the process of a multi-million dollar upgrade and expansion to the high school which will close the door on a regional high school for the foreseeable future.
I’m glad that Old Town’s consolidation efforts have been successful, but never was there a deal struck with the state of Maine and UMaine to build a regional high school; UMaine has consistently publically rebutted that….not sure why it keeps resurfacing.
Not sure where you are getting your information, but you are wrong. About a year before any consolidation a small group of people from Orono and Old Town met to discuss the high schools working together and what a consolidated new high school may look like. President Kennedy got wind of this and asked the University Provost to facilitate discussions to see what would come out of it. There were several organization meetings and it expanded to the point where a representative from each school committee, both superintendents, a town and city councilor, and a member of the public, along with the financial staff at the University, the Provost, the Communications department st to brainstorm as to the possibility of a consolidated Orono / Old Town High School, somewhere between the two communities, perhaps on University land, and with strong ties to the University. All of that went by the wayside when members of the Orono School Committee pre-consolidaiton, lost interest in any continued meetings.
It makes so much sense that it will never work in Orono.
Why not, people are more reasonable now.
Ms. Mitchell tried to do what was right, having attended meetings that she ran, seeing her walk out after in tears because of the way that other board members treated her was disgusting at best. I also went to tonight’s meeting of the board where a new chair person was elected(please bring Ms. Mitchell back) and witnessed people being quieted for their comments, her attempt to push through her agenda and not that of the Orono members, as well as disrespect to those that did not share her views. I hope that the BDN will report the facts from the meeting.
I would like to thank several members of the board for allowing Orono to spend their budget money as they see best for our community. Mr Lucy as a principal has improved the education for the students and I have 2 children in the school, so thank you Mr Lucy for all the hours you put in to make our kids experience the best one possible.
I too was at the meeting but had a different perspective than you. I do not believe that there was any pushing of agenda items one way or the other. There was some open dialogue and through that process perhaps some consensus has been reached. I appreciate one of the Glenburn Representatives saying that each town is like a bubble, with neither the whole Board or RSU working collectively together.
” What about Plan B?” cries Rose Thompson when plan A was introduced and ready to be voted on. “We need to hear plan B” she says. Yes, there was an agenda there and clearly some behind the scenes work being done out of the public forum. Plan B is the one Lisa Buck supported and was “ready to pounce” if it wasn’t presented. Keeping the principals was the first choice approved by 4 of the 5 Orono reps (Lisa being the one against) on Monday night. A meeting, that was not emotional as Lisa claims but very matter-of-fact and business like. The split in the vote last night to keep the principals showed the political agendas of various members of the board. Lisa clearly wants the RSU to fail so that she can resurrect the Orono/Old Town Regional High School option. Plan C is to obtain the emails to see how much business has been conducted behind the scenes.
I do agree with your e mail comment, it would be interesting to “see” All of the e mails and correspondence of ALL Committee members, just not a select few.
Speaking of emails, it is a gross breach of confidence to have someone on the board sharing private emails.
Not if they are conducting school board business it isn’t. All business is to be conducted in public and not behind closed doors (except for executive sessions).
From what I read last night, in the edited version I received, there was no business being conducted.
edited version are the key words here. Any email conversation that goes out to the board is business and the public has a right to see it.
Gotta admit, what I say last night does not rise to public documents which fall under the FOIAR
The Freedom of Access Act defines “public record” as “any written,
printed or graphic matter or any mechanical or electronic data
compilation from which information can be obtained, directly or after
translation into a form susceptible of visual or aural comprehension,
that is in the possession or custody of an agency or public official of
this State or any of its political subdivisions, or is in the possession
or custody of an association, the membership of which is composed
exclusively of one or more of any of these entities, and has been
received or prepared for use in connection with the transaction of
public or governmental business or contains information relating to the
transaction of public or governmental business”. A number of exceptions
are specified. (See the discussion of exemptions below) 1 M.R.S.A. § 402 (3).
Observer,
FYI- I did a little research on the email issue. A board member from another communtiy asked for an update from a meeting the Orono delegation had on Monday night to complete their recommendation process. The email was ONLY sent to the Orono reps and the request was for information that had already been discussed in a public forum. It was important to get Orono’s reommendations as the other two communities had already submitted their proposals to the board.
Yes, Ms. Buck should not have allowed her frustration to show, but we are all human and make mistakes. This was not intended to hurt anyone. Ms. Buck has been publically ridiculed for standing by her beliefs in this budget process. It is sad. Makes me wonder which Orono board member printed out the email and made sure it was distributed to the public in a meeting that was held in Orono. That critisizm was not spoken of in this article by the BDN or any Orono community member. Interesting.
Hello….Glenburn and Veazie have a lot at stake here too….its not all about Orono and what Orono members want!
This has been one of the biggest problems since RSU#26 was formed.
Right, like school choice outside of the district you now belong to.
I don’t disagree and I have always wondered if school choice were available to Orono students, how much of a decline in numbers would you see at OHS?
I can understand why parents who already have kids in H.S. or kids who were entering H.S. when the district joined, wouldn’t want to pull their kids. That should have been part of the agreement. But the issue or goal is to find cost-saving strategies, wouldn’t it make sense to keep students within the district rather than sending funds to other towns?
My student is happy where she is, so my concern isn’t so much Orono students having a choice in H.S., but where and when do members of the district decide to give and take to make things work.
My thought also is that if funds were staying within the district, would teachers and programs be saved/improved?
(Please read and consider my comments from the other side of the fence….and I mean no disrespect to any schools, towns or administration at all…this is just my opinion)
Removing school choice is not the answer to all of the RSU’s budgetary problems. Finding the golden egg that would attract more school choice students to OHS would be the first step in bringing more funds into the current RSU from sending towns.
Do I think we can find savings in sharing things like a district superintendent, yes. Do I think this RSU will ever succeed….no, I wasn’t in favor of it when it was formed and I am still very much in favor of it being dissolved!
You reside in your town because you like what your community has to offer, you like your neighbors and you have great educational opportunities for your children…which includes OHS. (and Pats)
On the flip side, many families move into my community for the same reasons plus some come for the added advantage of school choice. Realtor’s market school choice when selling homes….its a selling point!
I grew up with school choice and graduated from OHS, my siblings from John Bapst. I chose to stay in my community so my children would have the same opportunity.
We did not ask for consolidation but we were all forced into it. When the RSU was formed, our community fought to retain school choice. Not because we didn’t like OHS, but because it was a long standing part of our community and because of the variety of opportunities our children could find at various high schools. We pay our taxes and retained the opportunity with our town to send our kids to the high school of our choice.
Within 1/2 mile of my home we have 2 Orono kids, 5 John Bapst kids, 1 Brewer kid and 3 Bangor kids….and on the weekends they all hang out. I like that diversity!
Nobody wants to see a school fail but its not everyone’s primary concern what is happening in another community school either. We are losing several teaching positions and a middle school vice principle as well. Compared to the other elementary/middle schools within our district, their jobs and value is just as important. Do you really care that a librarian position or a 6th grade teaching position may not be filled at the Glenburn Middle School next year. Since it won’t have a first hand effect on your child I would guess probably not…just about as much as I could care less about cutting a JV sport or sharing/retaining principles or vice principles in Orono. That’s not to say we don’t “care”…its just not of great concern because it will not effect my child.
It seems as though we are on the same page for most of this. I also thought regionalizing school districts was not the brightest idea, so forced–in a way. But people did have an opportunity to vote.
Surprisingly, lost jobs is not first on my list of solutions. It becomes an issue that will effect all of the students in a negative way–in all of the schools. It becomes more than shared resources then. It becomes lost resources (library), increase size of classes and fewer time each week in the class, because the teacher is going to each school.
I also believe that each building–not necessarily grade level (Middle School vs. High School)–should have a principal. Today’s teachers have enough to do, they should have an additional authority figure in the building.
Losing school choice is not the total answer, but is it a possible solution that will keep funds within the district? I’m still not seeing that anyone is willing to do a give-and-take OR be willing to pay for the services that they feel is needed in their town.
I think you made a good point in regards that taking away school choice is not the answer. I am not sure there is an answer…….it seems that the only way the RSU could succeed would be an intermingling of schools so that all shareholders would be concerned with what is happening K-12. This is something that will never happen though as every community values having their own schools. We all take pride in our children’s education and that is a good thing! It is unfortunate that when the original vote took place it was a mere handful of people who took time to vote in Glenburn, under 70 if I recall. I think the dissolving of the RSU is the only solution that can remedy what has taken place over the course of the last 3 years. Nobody should have to endure the discourse all of the board members have had to deal with. It has pit community against community and yes I have even heard kids downing kids in regards to their choice of HS. Let’s all cooperate through the next year and know that next budget should be moving forward with each community in control.
I have to wonder what the real reason was for not even considering a 6 -12 principal. It makes the MOST sense !!
The new chair person ran an effective and efficient meeting. The public was allowed to speak, but not allowed to run away with comments. If a two minute time limit on individual comments had not been established, the meeting would have continued into the morning hours! It’s unfortunate that the recommendations of administrators from every school were actually listened to, but the Asa administrator was not, regardless of what one Orono board member claims. His agenda is clearly his own and does not represent the good of all students. The final result is not in the best interest of students, but does wonders to line the pockets of certain positions that were reinstated.
The manner in which the new chair implemented a “two minute” limit was poorly done. Speakers were not actually timed – resulting in some talking long and others being cut short seemingly at the chair’s whim. The time it took to arrange the last speakers to divide their time (after cutting off comments seemingly at her whim, rather than than after a set total time or number of speakers) and finally to cut off the comments of a teacher mid-course all took longer than it would have taken to just let the last two comments be heard in their entirety.
To further argue that Leo Kenney’s “agenda” is “his own” clearly ignores the support he had from most of those in attendance as demonstrated by the collective applause at the passage of the proposal he put forth– a proposal that clearly had more consensus amongst the Orono board members than the proposal the chair disingenuously characterized as consensus from a previous meeting (as evidenced by three of the Orono board members objecting to the way the chair characterized her first request for a vote).
Finally the gall of one board member from Glenburn to state that “we need to educate these people that we have no legal obligation” to listen to their comments in support of cutting off the comments of an Orono teacher, while later summoning up indignation that the Orono plan somehow devalues teachers, was laughable.
It seems clear who benefits from the decision. It isn’t students. You can try to fool yourself if it helps you sleep at night; but the facts are the facts, and they have been ignored in favor of political arm twisting and brotherly bullying.
I appreciate that the real reason that a single principle was suggested was to remove Mr. Lucy. I wish the Board would have been honest about it and just said this.
Heaven forbid that we would want to hear what the public has to say about important matters. We live in a democracy and the public has a right to be heard. The previous board chair was always willing to include the public and actively sought public input. The current chair and a few others don’t want to hear what the public has to say. This method works well in China, but not in the US. We, the public, have a right to be heard. Please bring back Ms. Mitchell.
Hate to disagree, but there is no “right” for the public to be heard. The system is not in essence a true democracy, but a Representative Democracy, where individuals are elected to represent the electorate, not necessarily one man one vote kind of thing. The School Committee meets to conduct the business of the schools. The public is invited to attend and may offer input as solicited by the Committee. While there may be a huge need to accept public comment, there is no rule mechanism to demand the Committee accept comments.
the problem is with your position is that the public get to vote on the budget. If you want it to pass, then listening to taxpayer concerns and addressing those in the development of the budget can ensure passage. Excluding the public from the discussion and cutting off commentary does not help with getting it passed.
Actually, we live in a Republic (for as long as we can keep it). Because the public is included in making comments doesn’t mean the public has the “right” to monopolize the meeting.
The board is elected to represent the citizens and what they believe is best for students. They were not elected to represent only the people who can shout the loudest at meetings, or threaten the board with law suits. They might have “heard” the Asa administrator’s recommendation, but they chose to ignore it.
If you have attended meetings all along, you would realize that there have been MONTHS of public input. It has been the same folks saying the same thing. How many more times do they feel the need to rehash? Just because some board reps did not agree with their sentiment it does not make them wrong. It makes them having their own OPINION. In reading your posts, you clearly have you own bias opinion of Glenburn representation. Tell me, if you feel that you have the solutions, why haven’t you put your name in the hat for an Orono Representatives seat? I guess it is much easier to play Monday morning quarter back and ridicule those who put hundreds of hours of volunteer time in representing this RSU.
She ran a meeting like a dictator, she attempted to push through a proposal from Orono that was never agreed on because it was what she wanted, she has voted against the students of Orono 4 times no. Letting people speak for 2 minutes is fine but the agenda said Public Discussion and she changed it with out notice. She allowed her husband to speak for more than 2 minutes and cut off one of the best teachers in the district. She has no business being the chair if she is going to put forth a personal agenda which she clearly did last night.
exactly. Lisa’s running of the meeting was horrible and she was clearly unfair. Those that agreed with her position could speak for longer than two minutes and those that disagreed with her were cutoff at two minutes or is some cases before two minutes was reached. But she is not alone here, she has support from two Glenburn reps, Rose and Lauren, that have obviously been conspiring with her.
the asa administrator chose not to attend the meeting. Let’s not forget that important point. And just because her position was not adopted doesn’t mean it wasn’t considered.
Another Baldacci failure comes home to roost.
Spread the credit–Emily Cain was instrumental in creating the RSU legislation and declared at one public meeting “school choice is a nonissue.”
Good point!
Lisa Buck is the best person for this job. For those haters out there, you know absoloutley nothing about her. She is kind, compassionate and also quite an advocate. She should be welcomed to this new position with open arms from the community because she truly has it’s best interest at heart.
What we know about Lisa is her public behavior and that is all we need to know. This year, the Orono Middle School was a awarded a National Blue Ribbon for Excellence and this is due to the students, teachers, and the leadership in the school. Movies have been made about such principals. What is Lisa’s position? To eliminate the leadership that brought us this award and change the structure of the school. Who is she an advocate for? Not the students that is for certain. At last night’s meeting she interrupted speakers, cut off comments and couldn’t keep accurate time of how long someone spoke. She told some that their two minutes were up when they had not even spoke for one minute. She has clearly held conversations with other members and is “ready to pounce” if her agenda is not presented. This does not show me a person who is the “best person” for this position. What it shows me is someone who is petty, rude, unprofessional, and untrustworthy. All we need to know about Lisa we can get from her public behavior.
Correction. The Blue Ribbon award has less to do with the middle school principal and more to do with the teachers and principals who laid the foundation at Asa Adams. The one person the board should have been listening to was basically ignored. Instead, they were either voting with blinders on, or they felt bullied and threatened by the brother of one of the main players. In either case, it was an embarrassing night for Orono tax payers. Why would anyone want to send their children to school in this community? I hope the Chinese parents don’t find out!
AWARDING BLUE RIBBONS
By David W. Kirkpatrick
http://www.schoolreport.com/schoolreport/articles/blueribbons_5_00.htm
In summary, with all due respect to the schools
receiving awards, what the federal Department of Education is recognizing is
not so much blue ribbon schools as it is blue ribbon students, the kind of
students who do well by virtue of their backgrounds, both individually, with
most of them having advantages, and collectively, since their being together in
one school makes it not only possible but inevitable that they will learn from
each other.
The true Blue Ribbon schools are those where the
school makes a difference, where students succeed who are not normally expected
to do so. There are such schools, public and nonpublic. They are the ones who
most deserve recognition, and, as the Blue Ribbon Awards for nearly 20 years
have show, are the ones least likely to receive it.
True, those students do well in spite of the staff. They would be blue ribbon students at any given school. Thanks for the reality check.
maybe you should ask you children where they learned the most
If the principle at ASA was so good and did such a good job to prepare the students then why is her daughter going to Central, show some pride and have her go to Orono. I for one believe that there was a behind the scene deal to give her the k-8 job and pay her more. Bob Lucy is the best principle in the RSU and he was the one that they wanted to get rid of???
Seriously? Sadly, you and many others are really out of touch. I mean no offense or disrespect, but I think you might want to spend a week at both schools and draw your own conclusions.
She goes to Central because she lives in that community and attends her local school. Irrelevant to any of these conversations.
Having only viewed her at this board meetings I saw someone who was petty, ineffective, and capricious. I was not impressed.
Mark Twain: Right about school boards in 1897, right about them in 2012.
If I were trying to do the absolute best for the children of Orono, I might be asking why it takes an average of $88,000 /year (salary and benefits) to pay the K-2 teachers at Asa Adams…..just wondering….
You’re misrepresenting the salary and also not including any context, and you know that.
Not sure how this is out of context or misrepresented. proposed k-2 for asa adams is $543,483 and change, plus benefits of $161,940 is $705,423 / 8 = $88,000
I’m still not seeing any context. Are you unsure what the word “context” means?
according to the dictionary, context is “the set of circumstances or facts that surround a particular event, situation, etc”. …the situation: salary line (cost to RSU) for k-2 teachers for next fiscal year: $543,483, benefit cost for those teachers to RSU (161,940)…added together = $705,423….budget shows 8 teachers for k – 2…..means an average cost in salaries and benefits to the RSU to pay the 8 k-2 for next year is $88,000 per teacher…do you need more context?
You’re quite right, of course. That is a preposterously small amount of money to spend on someone as critical to society as a primary school teacher.