Approximately 25 Medomak Valley High School students faced suspension at the end of an early morning protest in support of Regional School Unit/Maine School Administrative District 40 faculty, who have been working without a contract since last October.
“We know, as students, that without the faculty we wouldn’t be anywhere,” Sophomore Class President Gavin Felch, of Union, said.
Felch said he was at a track meet the previous evening, when students at an RSU/MSAD 40 Board of Directors meeting spoke in support of district faculty.
“I would have preferred it if we could have helped make change last night instead of this,” he said, indicating the entrance to the cafeteria where students remained in protest.
“Apparently they don’t want to listen to the teachers,” Felch said. “So we thought we would speak out by sitting in.”
He said it was sad that students might get suspended for the protest.
“Teachers have been telling us our whole lives to do what’s right,” Felch said.
According to English teacher Melissa Barbour, there were 150 students sitting quietly at tables in the cafeteria at that time. Barbour offered to photograph the group, but was told by Principal Harold Wilson not to do so.
“I teach journalism,” Barbour said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s my job.”
“It’s actually a very good group of kids in there,” Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde said. “They’re asking good questions.” At 7:40 a.m., he estimated the number of protesting students at that time to be between 75-100.
Felch said he knows money is tight.
“Without the faculty we have this school would be nothing,” he said.
Junior Jonas Metcalfe, of Union, said students need to help one another understand the issues at stake. He said some students used the occasion as an opportunity to get out of class and that those truly concerned about the issue should attend school board meetings.
Senior Grace Jameson, of Waldoboro said students need to organize.
“I grew up with theses teachers,” senior Danielle Lawson of Waldoboro said. “They helped me.” She called the protest “a complete failure.”
At 8:12 a.m., student Meghan Pease said the 25 students remaining in the cafeteria were to be suspended for the day.
Three minutes later, as students where heard calling home for rides, Wilson asked reporters to leave. He said he would provide a statement later in the day.
