Twenty-five Medomak Valley High School students faced suspension at the end of an early morning protest April 12, in support of Regional School Unit/Maine School Administrative District 40 faculty, who have been working without a contract since last October.
Reporters from three area news organizations were not allowed beyond the school lobby April 12.
Principal Harold Wilson said reporters have the “general right of a member of the public.” He said he does not let members of the public “wander around the school.”
“We know, as students, that without the faculty we wouldn’t be anywhere,” Sophomore Class President Gavin Felch, of Union, said. “We kids are concerned that a community like Oceanside [Regional School Unit 13] can pay teachers as much as $10,000 a year more.”
He said he was uncertain of the exact difference between salaries in the two districts.
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 changes 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. He said his father is a teacher and that public educators in the U.S. “are the worst paid in the world, besides Turkey.”
Waldoboro Police Officer Jeff Fuller arrived at 7:25 a.m. at Chief Bill Labombarde’s request. Labombarde was also present in plain clothes, “to support public safety,” he said. Student Resource Officer Tom Hoepner was out for medical reasons.
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 Wilson not to do so.
“I teach journalism,” Barbour said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s my job.”
In a news release sent later that day, Wilson said approximately 90 students were gathered in the MVHS cafeteria at the start of the demonstration.
At 7:35 a.m. the bell for home room sounded and the doors to the cafeteria were closed from inside.
Those looking in the hall windows expressed interest in the action but said they did not want to be suspended. Student Jared Mank, who said he was one of those to instigate the action, chose not to take part in the event.
“I don’t want to be involved with cops,” he said.
Five minutes later, Assistant Principal Andrew Cavanaugh asked students milling in the hall to go to their homerooms. He said between 60-70 students remained in the cafeteria.
“We’re going to have a conversation with them,” Cavanaugh said.
Labombarde said applause that came from the cafeteria was in response to a student’s question to administrators.
“It’s actually a very good group of kids in there,” Labombarde said. “They’re asking good questions.” He estimated the number of protesting students at that time to be between 75 and 100.
At 7:55 a.m., part way into the first period, some students left the cafeteria after asking to go to classes.
Cavanaugh escorted Felch into the hallway.
“I know how hard you work,” Felch told the administrator. He said teachers do a service to the community. “I feel they deserve more. I know you do, too.”
Felch said he knows money is tight.
“Without the faculty we have, this school would be nothing,” he said.
Felch said the students’ show of support for teachers was, “The best thing that’s happened in my high school career.”
Senior Hannah Babcock, of Washington, described a previous student action in defense of an individual teacher who was being let go. She said that protest had no effect.
She said she has a “perfect record” and chose not to jeopardize that by participating in a protest that “wasn’t going to change a single thing about the teachers’ contract.”
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.
Several speakers, including Warren Selectman Michael York, said they were there to advocate for Occupational Therapy Aide Kathy Cartwright, whose position is not in the budget for the coming year.
Cartwright is one year away from eligibility for retirement benefits. York’s son Jake also spoke on behalf of Cartwright.
“She’s a wiz and an inspiration to me,” he said.
In later executive session the board deliberated on the OT position, choosing later not to change their position.
“This position was not in the presented administrative budget,” Pratt wrote in an April 13 email message. “The cost of the position as explained throughout the budget process is $42,331. With the change, the services will be provided using a contracted service mode, which will allow the district to have more flexibility in aligning needs with services provided.”
Other members of the public had questions for the board about the negotiations for a new teachers’ contract. Lila Percy, of Warren, asked about an incentive program the district included in its proposal to faculty.
She was told the board would not respond to questions at that time, and asked to send her request by email.
In responding to Percy’s request, Superintendent Susan Pratt cited sections of L.D. 1858, “An Act To Ensure Effective Teaching and School Leadership.”