After years of playing high school gyms for big crowds but little money, Maine comedian Bob Marley is taking a break from his wildly popular Project Graduation spring fundraising tour.

Marley gave performances for about 40 schools last spring. He’ll do none this year.

“My book is just filled up,” he said. “I’m taking stuff into 2008.”

The switch has left some schools scrambling to come up with a new way to raise thousands of dollars before graduation.

“We were kind of counting on that,” said Regina Hutchinson, co-chairwoman of Buckfield’s Project Graduation committee.

For years, Marley cut his appearance fee in half for schools raising money to hold chem-free graduation parties. He would do his stand-up routine at a local venue; schools sold tickets and pocketed the profits.

Marley liked it because he could help out Maine kids. Schools liked it because the shows routinely sold out, allowing them to net $2,000 or $3,000 or more in a single night.

At one point, so many schools wanted Marley that he was doing six or seven shows a night. Last year, he had a waiting list.

“It was a quick, easy fundraiser,” said Auburn Assistant Principal Steve Galway, who put his Edward Little High School on a waiting list last year in hopes of getting Marley for the first time this year. “He would have given me the opportunity to add additional things (to the celebration).”

But this winter, Marley’s booking agent told schools he just couldn’t do their shows. Not only was Marley booked at comedy clubs and theaters across the country, but he was also trying to spend more time with his family and newborn son.

“He had to make a choice scheduling-wise,” said Oliver Keithly, Marley’s booking agent.

Schools were offered another comedy show with two opening acts and a headliner, Rhode Island-native P.J. Thibodeau.

“P.J. Thibodeau is really great. He’s a home run hitter. He’s really funny,” Marley said.

Project Graduation coordinators were disappointed, but understanding. Some high schools, like those in Auburn and Rumford, didn’t try the new show. They either beefed up other fundraisers or found a way to do without the money.

Others high schools, like those in Buckfield and Lewiston, decided to try the replacement comedian.

Buckfield Junior-Senior High School had its show last week. It lost money.

“We knew it was a gamble,” Hutchinson said. “It didn’t pay off.”

The show was very good, she said, but Thibodeau just didn’t have Marley’s name recognition, and tickets didn’t sell. The Class of 2007 must now find another way to raise money.

“We were kind of counting on that,” Hutchinson said.

On Wednesday, Lewiston High School canceled its Thibodeau show. After weeks of posting fliers and offering tickets at school and through local grocery stores, the class realized its April 6 performance had only sold two seats.

It had hoped to make up to $8,000 from the show, a big chunk of the $20,000 it needed for a 300-student graduation party.

“It was one of our last pushes,” said Matthew Gutshall, senior class president.

Now, he’s not sure what they’re going to do.

“We’re working on it,” he said.

Poland Regional High School will soon find out if the new comic pays off for its students. As with the other schools, Thibodeau’s appearance will cost Poland less than Marley’s would have. The school has passed that savings on to ticket buyers in hopes of enticing people to come to the April 27 show.

“We really need to make what we made on Bob,” said Louise Clark, who is helping to coordinate Project Graduation for the school.

Tickets go on sale at the school March 31.

Marley said he feels bad about missing the Project Graduation fundraisers, but he didn’t know what else he could do with his schedule.

He hopes he can offer the benefits again. Maybe next year.

“It was a blast. We had a lot of fun doing it,” he said. “It’s good to help the kids.”