Conners Emerson Adjusts Budget, Awards Bus Bid & New School Construction Plans On Schedule
Briefs: Come to Jesup Tonight for League of Women Voters! Robotics Team Takes Regionals, an Albert the Dog Update & Jamie Gonzalez will be Honored Tonight
BAR HARBOR—For the next four years, Bar Harbor students will be able to get to school via bus. The Conners Emerson School Board approved a bus bid with John T. Cyr & Sons, Inc., and an adjusted budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024-June 2025) in a quick meeting February 5.
The bid covers the next four years and begins at $352,635 in 2024-2025 and increases to $385,306 for 2027-2028. Fuel is a separate line item.
Along with Cyr, a company from Massachusetts and a smaller company expressed interest, but the school only received a bid from Cyr.
“You can’t underestimate the amount of communication they give to us,” Vice Principal Michael Fournier said of Cyr and its drivers.
The budget was adjusted because of a school subsidy change and a decreased carryover. The money, as explained during a presentation to the Town Council and Warrant Committee earlier, that will be sent from the state to Bar Harbor is $90,000 more than initially anticipated. This is mostly due to increased special education needs. This and other factors decreases the town’s appropriation by approximately $707,000 to $7,606,474 and total revenues raised to $8,805,537. The board unanimously approved the budget and the bid. Misha Mytar was absent.
Chair Lilea Simis said that while past budget presentations had been wonderful, this year’s presentation to the Warrant Committee and Town Council was exceptional. Dr. Heather Weir Webster and Superintendent Michael Zboray had presented that budget.
NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION
Conners Emerson Vice Principal Mike Fournier said that the project to build a replacement school for the ailing Conners and Emerson buildings is on schedule. The next steps are issuing site permitting to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and finishing the construction documents, most of which are completed. Bidding should occur in May and construction is slated to start in early summer.
“Their timeline is built on their experience,” Superintendent Michael Zboray said.
Zboray is also meeting with the town’s manager and town council chair to talk about potentially getting a height variance for the school project. There is currently, he said, no process for that variance to be granted. Being able to not dig into the ground would create more savings for the project and the tax payer.
OTHER BUSINESS
Vice Chair Marie Yarborough said was hoping for the principal report to be linked online again.
Zboray added that Town Manager James Smith asked about solar panels capability on the new school building’s roof. It is solar ready, but those panels are not in the project’s costs. The Town Council is currently deliberating about the financial feasibility of the town’s Higgins Pit Solar Project, which is meant to supply all the electrical needs for the town municipal building.
The Conners Emerson PTSA raised $18,000 in its annual fundraiser.
“We are seeing things that couldn’t normally happen,” because of that, Fournier said. That includes special author visits, a trip to see the solar eclipse in April, green house program support, and more supplies for clubs and classes.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
February 13th- NAEP National Science Testing for 8th grade
February 14th- Valentine's Day: Wear your fave red, pink, purple, white, and other cupid-y colors!!!
February 16th- Early Release Day (12:30pm) and Pajama Day!!!
February 19-23rd- Vacation Week
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TONIGHT!
The League of Women Voters wants to hear from you and tell you all about what its members do to engage youth and work toward clean elections! Come hang out with some democracy minded people, February 7 from 4 to 5:40 at the Jesup Memorial Library.
ALBERT THE DOG UPDATE
From Emily Felt,
”Missing dog ALBERT UPDATE as of Feb 6 at 9pm: he’s still out there but we think he’s nearing his mom’s home. On Feb 3-4, the extraordinary Fairfield Pet Detective Team tracked him to within a 1/2 mile of his home at the interior of Woods Road.
If you live in the vicinity of Indian Point or Pretty Marsh Road (or any of rhe roads in between), PLEASE
1. Contact 704-607-5684 asap if you see a 25 lb gray and black dog run by
2. Contact 704-607-5684 if your dog is going bezerk because they sense something in the yard;
3. Spread the word to your neighbors - especially those not on Facebook - to look for a stray dog;
4. Continue to hope for his safe return
5. Check your security cams and deercams for possible sightings of a gray and blackk terrier; please us know if tou glimpse him.
PLEASE DO NOT
A. Chase or shout; he’s scared and will run further away
B. Lose hope.”
MDI HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!
Beating more than 35 other schools at John Bapst Memorial High School this past weekend, the Mount Desert Island High School took regional champions. The win sends the team, advised by Dawn Burgess on to states in South Portland March 8 and 9.
RECOGNIZING JAMIE
MDI superfan for both sports and students, Jamie Gonzales, died this past July. At the Wednesday, February 7, MDI vs Ellsworth boys’ basketball game at MDI High School, there’s going to be a presentation to honor Gonzales’ memory and legacy.
The pregame and Senior Night will likely begin at 6:40. JV plays at 5:30.
Our earlier story about Jamie Gonzales.
An article about Gonzales via WDEA’s Chris Popper. Jamie Gonzales to be Honored Prior to MDI-Ellsworth Boy’s Game Wednesday.
SMELLS ON INDIAN POINT REMAIN MYSTERIOUS
After multiple calls and complaints, February 7, the Bar Harbor Fire Department could not find the source of a noxious smell or a smell on Indian Point and near the head of the island. The department cleared the call at 11 a.m.
Some complained that it smelled of propane. Others said it reminded them of fish guts. Others said that it was more like the smell of paper mills.
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH AT MDI HIGH SCHOOL
