NEW GLOUCESTER — This summer, 50 people gathered on the campus of Opportunity Farm to hear about the merger of two Maine nonprofit organizations. The new chair of the board of directors, Fredric W. Williams, announced that The Community School of Camden has merged with Opportunity Farm to create “The Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden.”

The merger has been carefully planned for more than two years. Both organizations have shared the same goal of encouraging life-long learning and providing students with the skills and experiences necessary to connect with their families, practice personal responsibility and contribute to their communities.

In the summer of 2010, Opportunity Farm and Common Good Ventures sought potential partners and interviewed seven organizations in their desire to find the best match. Because of its strong track record in keeping kids in school, its ability to cost-effectively deliver high quality services, and its visionary leadership, the board decided that The Community School was the best possible partner for the future.

The Community School, Maine’s first alternative high school, was founded in 1973 by Maine educators Dora Lievow and Emanuel Pariser and provides two core programs: a nine-month residential program, and a home-based Passages program for teen parents, both of which culminate in a state of Maine approved high school diploma.

The merger honors Opportunity Farm’s 100 year history of serving Maine youth.

The majority of the school’s funding comes from grants and fundraisers. The Community School never turns a student away due to an inability to pay, and tuition assistance and scholarships are available. The newly formed Community Schools at Opportunity Farm and Camden will provide opportunities for more than 60 students during the first year of operation.

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