SAD 1 may allow school sponsored Sunday events
Photo courtesy of Lottie Hedley
READY TO BUILD — Peter Gerritsen, left, along with father, Jim, and brother, Caleb, review plans for the Wood Prairie Farm repair shop that is being funded thanks to online contributors who raised more than $30,000. The Gerritsens will use the money to build a 30 foot by 70 foot metal and concrete building with wood-fired radiant floor heat that will allow Peter and Caleb, the farm’s chief mechanics, to maintain and fabricate their vintage organic seed farm equipment.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE — For the last 20 years, SAD 1 has not allowed school-sponsored events to be held on Sundays. However, directors may change that practice and permit some activities to take place.
In the early 1990s, Superintendent Gehrig Johnson met with a group of local clergy who, at the time, urged him to not allow school-sponsored events to take place on Sunday.
“I brought the issue to the school board at that time for review,” Johnson told directors at last Wednesday night’s board meeting. “While the board didn’t create a new policy, they agreed that the superintendent should not allow it. I’ve maintained a strict interpretation of those wishes ever since.
“As time goes by, we’re receiving more frequent requests to hold Sunday events,” he said, noting that many other area school districts allow for school-sponsored events on Sundays. “Caribou, for example, holds its commencement exercises on Sunday, and some surrounding districts allow Sunday activities also.”
The issue resurfaced recently when Johnson received a request from director Leslee Mahon to hold a Sunday performance of the upcoming Presque Isle High School fall play production to accommodate a scheduling conflict.
Director Paul Saija said having Sunday events could cause families and students to make some tough choices.
“It would be a shame if a student were in a play production and their parents wanted them to attend a church service, forcing a choice between the two,” he said. “That could potentially cause conflict within family.”
Sue Cook said allowing Sunday functions could allow for more parents to attend their child’s activities.
“With a play, for example, I could never attend on a Friday or Saturday because I’m working,” she said, “but I would be able to go to a Sunday show.”
“[Allowing these events] may actually give families an opportunity to do things together on a Sunday afternoon,” said Lucy Richard, board chair.
Some directors expressed concern that if Sunday activities were permitted, student athletes would be practicing seven days a week.
“On the athletic side, I don’t see our Sunday policy changing. We’ve had no requests from our sports teams to schedule Sunday activities,” said Johnson. “Our requests are for the arts and music performances, and other non-sports activities.”
Brent Buck said earlier in the meeting he was opposed to the idea, but after listening to the discussion could support the concept if it was for an event.
“I draw the line at holding practices on Sunday. With three teenage daughters, they can practice mornings, nights and Saturdays,” he said. “Sunday is the one day they can unwind. If there was an opportunity, people would put those Sunday practices in there, and the kids would be out seven days a week, and I don’t think that’s healthy … at least for my own children.
“If there was an event — like a play — and a conflict prevented it from being held on a Saturday,” said Buck, “I could accept that, and it might create opportunities for people who might not otherwise be able to attend. But as far as practices, I don’t think it’s healthy.”
Scott Norton said he, too, would be in favor of allowing occasional events, but not practices.
“I think you’d have to also allow for Sunday sporting events such as a tournament if it couldn’t be scheduled otherwise,” he said. “I think there would be some opposition if you excluded athletics, but I’m not in favor of allowing Sunday practices. Either way, I think creating a board policy would be a good idea.”
Should the district opt to allow for Sunday events, they would likely be held in the afternoon or evening to allow families to attend morning church services.
Directors voted to table the issue until next month. In the meantime, Johnson will create a draft policy for board members to discuss at the Sept. 12 meeting, which will be held at 5 p.m. at the school farm.
