Staff Writer
During a March 3 public hearing held by members of the Eastern Aroostook RSU 39 board of education, parents and area farmers voiced their opinions, both pro and con, regarding the annual school harvest recess.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Ryan Guerrette representing Guerrette Farms of Caribou directed his comments to the RSU 39 board members during a recent public hearing regarding the annual school harvest recess.
Tim Hobbs, representing the Maine Potato Board stated, “Any reduction in the workforce pool, regardless of the number of days will affect the majority of local growers.”
Frank McElwain, superintendent of the RSU 39, explained to the growers, parents and staff members of the previous survey results which showed out of 692 students who completed the survey, 107 or 16 percent of them stated they were directly involved with the potato harvest. A smaller number of parents completed the survey; 40 percent of those who did reply were in favor of continuing the fall recess tradition.
Staff members were shown to be split in their responses and 77 percent of area farmers replying to the survey were in favor of maintaining the annual harvest recess.
McElwain informed the group that there are five schools in Aroostook County which continue to observe the traditional three-week harvest; four schools shut down for two weeks, three others for one with one not observing the recess.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Trevor Michaud, who farms in Limestone, Caswell and Fort Fairfield, addressed the RSU 39 board of education during the March 3 public hearing. The RSU board encouraged local farmers to attend this hearing, informing them of their views regarding the annual harvest recess.
The reason behind the public hearing pertained to the consideration of the RSU taking on a more common calendar regarding all grades — Pre-k through 12 — allowing for a more coordinated system and ultimately a unified calendar. One option was to allow flex days for students who continue to be directly involved with the potato harvest or reducing the number of days from the current three-week window.
Murray Blackstone, another local grower stated to the board, “I think the harvest recess should be left as it is. It is obviously very important to get our crops out of the ground.” Blackstone used the analogy that students make up 20 percent of his harvest workforce, what would happen if the school system all of a sudden lost 20 percent of its workforce? Blackstone also stressed the valuable work ethic that is learned by working in the potato harvest.
Dr. Stacey Jandreau, a native of Caribou who worked in the harvest as a student, addressed the board members as a parent. “I think it is the board’s responsibility to protect the education of kids and further the education process, not interrupt it.” Jandreau stated that since most students were not working in the fields, those who are directly involved should have an option to be excused during that time. “I encourage you to primarily maintain focus on education.”
Dr. Jandreau admitted the unique work ethic she and others gained by participating in the potato harvest has been proven extremely valuable throughout adulthood, but felt the disruption of the school year was detrimental to learning and encouraged educational consistency.
Matt Griffeth, another grower who farms in Fort Fairfield, Limestone and Caswell also informed the board that in order to keep a strong local economy, “We need farmers and that it is very important to keep the harvest recess even if it meant a proposed reduction in the number of days allotted.”
Caribou potato grower Ryan Guerrette, who spoke in favor of maintaining the harvest recess commented, “ The local farmers in this area give a lot of big contributions in support of this community — and farmers pay a lot of taxes. I think it’s a shame that kids aren’t involved (work) in the potato harvest anymore — parents should encourage their children to be part of it.” Guerrette continued, “I know it doesn’t seem like much when a farmer says they use two or three kids during harvest but it is — and the timeframe is extremely important to farmers, I know we can’t do anything about the weather but to me, I would really like to see the kids work, it’s very important and when our kids leave the area and go downstate or even out of state, they are the ones who get the good jobs and it all comes back on their work ethic — something they learned by being part of the potato harvest.” Guerrette also suggested the board members consider the possibility of having students fulfill a portion of the mandated community service hours by becoming involved in the potato harvest, working for local growers.
The RSU 39 board members will continue to seek options to a unified school calendar and will consider all possibilities before a final decision is made.
The next meeting of the Eastern Aroostook RSU board of education will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at the superintendents building on South Main Street in Caribou.
