Staff Writer
The Caribou School Board held its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 9, electing new officers and discussing a proposed addition to the athletic program at Caribou Middle School.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Andrew Dyer
Kent Forbes, left, was honored for his two terms of service as chair of the Caribou School Board, with a plaque on Jan. 9. Congratulating Forbes is newly elected chair, Scott Willey. Forbes will continue his service to the Caribou School Board acting as vice chair.
Superintendent Frank McElwain began the meeting acting as moderator until the election of a new board chair.
Scott Willey was unanimously elected as chair, with former chair Kent Forbes unanimously elected as vice chair. Forbes was presented with a plaque recognizing his two terms of service as board chair.
Once Forbes and Willey had switched seats, Willey got the meeting under way. Introducing Travis Barnes, Caribou Middle School Athletic Director, with a proposed addition of an alpine skiing program at the middle school.
Barnes pointed out that there seems to be student interest in starting an alpine ski team at the middle school, with between 15 and 20 students who would participate. According to Barnes the proposed program would begin as a club, eventually growing into an athletic team, based on student participation. The club would utilize the man made hill at Caribou High School, and possibly plan on an annual trip to Big Rock Ski Area in Mars Hill.
Barnes pointed out that the program would benefit the high school alpine ski team, by sending more experienced skiers into the high school level of competition. Barnes also expressed his interest in the program as a way to get students involved in sports who may not otherwise be interested. Barnes saw this as a way to reach out to more students, instilling a love for lifelong sports.
It was also mentioned that a couch or advisor of some kind would need to be hired, and ski rentals would need to be settled.
Katherine Anderson made a motion that the board approve Barnes request, which was seconded by Kyle Blackstone. The board voted unanimously to approve an alpine skiing club at Caribou Middle School.
