When the Principal Becomes a Doctor
School Construction Update
BAR HARBOR— School Board member Misha Mytar rushed in to the Conners Emerson School Library as the Conners Emerson School Board meeting began, a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Chair Alexandra “Lilea” Simis had placed bottles of sparkling water on the table. Superintendent Mike Zboray had a magnet that read, “Learn with Moxie,” a phrase his father (who was also an educator) used to say.
It was all for Principal Heather Webster, who now is officially Dr. Heather Webster, having earned her doctorate from North Central University.
“It’s been a long road,” she said before telling a story of how some of the students are also proud of her accomplishments. When one student was getting her attention by saying, “Mrs. Webster,” another child corrected her.
“That’s Dr. Webster,” she said.
Emphasis on doctor.
The principal at Pemetic Elementary also has a doctorate. Webster was acting principal and assistant principal of Conners Emerson before taking over the role after Barb Neilly’s retirement. She has been the principal at Swan’s Island Elementary School and the Ashley Bryan School in Isleford.
The celebration occurred before the board began its regular meeting where Dr. Webster quickly filled members in about goings on at the school including classes moving locations and that there are 354 students, including many new students.
“They are finding housing in Bar Harbor which is fantastic,” she said.
Fourth grade is the largest class with over 50 students. There are 46 in first grade, which Webster said was another large class.
This was also the first meeting for Mike Kiers who ran unopposed for the seat vacated by Robin Sue Tapley.
KITCHEN AND LIBRARY AND LEAKS
The kitchen staff cannot use the Ansul system in the kitchen, Webster told the board because the system failed inspection. The state fire marshal and state gas inspector have been there. They should return this week.
“That was kind of a surprise to us. It was about three days before school started,” that they found out, Webster said.
The first estimate to repair the system was $4,000. Webster said that since then, the inspectors went into the ceiling, found more issues, and she expects it might be twice that cost to repair the system. Currently, the staff is rearranging menus to create food that doesn’t depend on the system.
Ansul is a brand of fire protection products.
Webster said she was told that the system was never quite set up right and there are fixes that need to happen even though the town is building a new school in three years.
There have been repairs and new drywall and drainage for the exterior library wall that had been compromised by biologicals last year and pulled away from the foundation.
There were two small leaks. One was in a bathroom and another in the gym. The leak in the bathroom came from the flashing, but the school is still trying to figure out the source of the gym leak, which didn’t seem like it was coming from the ceiling.
Both the phones and overhead systems have been worked on.
NEW SCHOOL UPDATE
Bar Harbor voters approved a $58 million reconstruction of the school building and site this past June. The ailing schools have suffered boiler failures, walls pulling away from the foundation, and multiple water leaks just this year, failures which have been compounded by a lack of physical space to serve student and staff needs.
“Saying 2026 doesn’t feel that far away,” one board member said of the school’s expected opening date. Construction should begin next year.
Webster has been meeting with Harriman’s, the architect and engineering team in charge of the construction project, as well as with the teachers and staff in multiple meetings.
They also looked over the entire building and property trying to determine things like where an outdoor basketball hoop can go and how to take the courtyard and keep it usable and use the hardscape to delineate different outdoor use areas. There should still be a 120 foot by 80 foot space for a smaller-size field.
One of the trade-offs is trying to create more parking spaces for the school, which currently doesn’t have enough spaces for each staff member. There are about 80 employees. At the same time the hardscaping of parking and the new bus and car entry (transportation loop) takes away from the outdoor spaces that students can use. The goal is to try to come up with an innovative solution for parking that gives some outdoor space back.
There is a significant amount of the property that has a steep downgrade, and they are building as far back as they can on the site. They are looking again at the transportation loops.
The library is the heart of the building, Webster said. “It’s the first thing you see when you come in.”
The kids play and read and learn and make things within the room, she said. “We all know that Siobhan’s library is not a quiet library.”
Part of the design plan difficulties is to determine what age groups they are designing the library for and how to design it in a way that can be pivoted if the district-wide school restructuring happens.
“Harriman has a very specific timeline and they are working very hard to hit it,” Simis said.
There will be a one-page update at the school’s open house and a quick public comment tonight at the Town Council meeting.
The building will be solar ready. They may have to ask the town for a height variance for the building.
Simis said they are making grant applications and soliciting donors, but she has to pull the fundraising committee back together and find out the date that they have to get all donations into the town by. She hopes to meet with the town’s Finance Director Sarah Gilbert to collate those sort of details.
If there are no other donors or grants to help defray the costs, the $58 million would have differing impacts on tax payers per $100,000 in valuation depending on the length of the bond the town takes out on the project. The impact also varies according to the rate of the bond. The figures below are per $100,000 of property valuation and are at bond rates of 3%. The bond may come in a bit less than that.
According to Finance Director Sarah Gilbert, donations for the school construction project can be dropped off at the Finance Department on the main floor of the town’s Municipal Building or mailed in to 93 Cottage Street.
BUDGET
Vice Chair Marie Yarborough asked for a budget timeline and reviews and dates for all the meetings.
At the October 2 meeting, they’ll look at the state of affairs, Zboray said.
November will be the draft budget. Usually there are two November meetings where the budget is discussed. Then, in December, the board will finalize what it will present to the Town Council.
On January 2 the budget goes to the town. The board members meet with the Council and Warrant Committee in January and March. The biggest kerfuffle, Yarborough said, is usually finding out when the Warrant Committee’s education subcommittee is meeting and making sure there is representation there.
COVID
There have been a few students and staff members who have tested positive for COVID. This year they haven’t been alerting the parents of classmates of students who have tested positive. Webster was looking for guidance about this, particularly where does COVID fall in terms of notifications as opposed to the flu or strep.
There’s no universal guidance on that, Zboray said.
NEW VAN SEARCH
The school had been approved to buy a minivan to transport students and they are getting bids for hybrid minivans. The problem, Webster said, is that the hybrid models all have bells and whistles.
“It’s been really hard to find one that’s a hybrid that is just your basic model,” she told the board.
Two are coming out from Kia in December (a Sorrento and Carnival). They range between $39k and $42k. The best price on some that are currently available is $57k, she said.
“We need to get a hybrid because the town has directed us that way,” Webster said.
The van would help transport kids to Willow Wind Therapeutic Riding Center, smaller trips, or to get kids home when they are sick and their parents don’t have a way to get them there. If they get a hybrid, they can also put in a charging station. Using personal vehicles creates higher insurance rates and issues, she said.
CALENDAR CHANGE
The AOS Board changed the school MDIRSS 23-24 School Calendar at its meeting last week.
Friday, October 6 is now an early release day. Friday, October 20 is now a full day of school.
INTERIOR CAMERAS
A discussion about potentially installing interior cameras in the school was postponed until another board meeting.
“I think it’s a really important conversation to have,” Webster said
Zboray also recommended the board members read the existing policies about cameras. Board Member Misha Mytar said that reading the policies was helpful.
Zboray said that swatting events and incidents in the past has shown how interior cameras can be helpful. When administrators and police get a call that something nefarious might be happening in the school, interior cameras can help determine if that is true. That way, he said, “you’re not putting schools through lockdown events for nothing.”
The board unanimously approved David Kerns, acting police chief as the truant and attendance officer, replacing Jim Willis who retired as chief this summer.
The board’s next meeting is Monday, October 2.
PTSA
According to Tiger Talk,
“The next PTSA meeting will be Tuesday October 3, 3:30-4:30pm in the school library (alternate location: Mrs. Nicholson's room in the 5/6 hallway). Everyone is welcome (parents/guardians, teachers, staff, & students), and children are welcome as well (childcare provided by CES 8th graders).
“If you'd like to be a part of the PTSA, please sign up here (it's quick & easy!): PTSA 2023/2024 Membership Sign-up Form
“Wondering what the PTSA is all about? The PTSA is a group of parents/guardians, teachers, staff, and students working together to support and enrich our school community. We plan events such as the Science Fair and Family Movie Nights, fundraise to sponsor Teacher Grant awards, celebrate our fabulous teachers & staff during Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week, and we are always open to new ideas about how to support our wonderful CES community.”
Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 21st is School Picture Day. Forms will be going home soon so that you can pre-order and prepare.
Thursday, September 21st is CES Open House from 4:30-5:30 (hot dogs and bake sale fundraiser) followed by an 8th grade parent meeting at 5:30 in the cafeteria.
Friday, September 29th is an Early Release Day.
Friday, October 6th is an Early Release Day (new)/October 20th is now a full day.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
School project gets first donation
Cost For Potential School Lowered By $3 Million
The school construction project website, click here.
For our article about the cost and structural issues, including photos and more information click here.
Total Reorganization? New Early Release Days?