Jobs for Maine Graduates up in the air
Jobs for Maine Graduates aims to keep students in school by involving them in the community, through enrichment activities and regular classes.
At issue is whether the program could be offered at Mountain Valley High School as a pilot or whether it should be made available to all three high schools in the district.
Mountain Valley Principal Matt Gilbert is a strong advocate for the program, saying it was very successful in a district where he previously taught.
“This is one of the best programs I've seen from outside a school,” he said.
Craig Larrabee, statewide director of the program that aims to use alternative methods for student retention and follows up after graduation, proposed it for up to 50 Mountain Valley students who could benefit.
Mexico representative Betty Barrett, and others, objected to it being for just one high school.
“We're an RSU. All schools should be allowed to do this. We're supposed to be as one and I can't see approving it for just one high school,” she said. “When we came together, the curriculum was supposed to be put together as a unit.”
Superintendent Tom Ward said students in need of the program from Dirigo High School or Buckfield High School could transfer to Mountain Valley, or a Mountain Valley program could serve as a pilot that could be expanded to Dirigo and Buckfield in the future.
Larrabee said the district pays for 45 percent of the program, and Jobs for Maine Graduates pays for 55 percent. As a public/private partnership, the current program has enough money for just one.
Sumner representative John Phillips suggested that the slots be apportioned according the the number of students enrolled in each member district.
Board Chairman Jerry Wiley said he wasn't against the program, but he wants it in all three high schools.
“I want a proposal on paper,” he said.
Between now and Sept. 14, Ward will meet with Gilbert, Buckfield High School Principal George Reuter, Dirigo Principal Michael Poulin and Larrabee to try to come up with a plan that would satisfy everyone's concerns. If the plan should go ahead, Larrabee said he could have a qualified person to lead the program within two weeks.
Gilbert said part of the reason he proposed the idea was to find a program to serve needs of some students who would have enrolled in his high school's Family and Consumer Science classes. The teacher of that program resigned late, and despite constant advertising, no one with the correct certification has applied.
A couple of board members took issue with introducing a Jobs for Maine Graduates program in place of Family and Consumer Science.
“I have respect for Matt, and (Jobs for Maine Graduates) sounds like a great program, but I can't support it to replace Family and Consumer Science. It's apples and oranges,” Rumford representative Tracey Higley said.
Larrabee said several new school districts are beginning Jobs for Maine Graduates programs this year including Skowhegan, Madison and Carrabec. Statewide, 68 such programs are operating.
eadams@sunjournal.com
