School Board crunches the numbers to reconfigure the Cost Sharing Formula - By Michelle Libby

After months of working through the data and many meetings, the RSU14 School Board has begun having public hearings and laying out the plan for adjusting the Cost Sharing Formula between Raymond and Windham. 
 

When the communities consolidated in 2009, it was determined that the cost sharing would be based on the prior three-year average of the additional local-only funding. The percentages were 55 percent for Windham and 45 percent for Raymond. The Windham High School debt would be based on a two-year enrollment of Raymond students.

In the fall a subcommittee was created called the cost sharing committee with two Raymond members and two Windham members. The numbers were compared to numbers that were estimated out based on how much the two towns would have paid for educating the youth in that community if the RSU had not been created.

The new proposal is based on the State valuation of each town. Windham’s valuation is $1,772,075,000. Raymond’s is $1,003,150,000. When figured out the percentages were 64 percent and 36 percent. Windham having the larger percentage because it is larger. It is that 64 percent and 36 percent split that also was figured by averaging the number of students in each community. 

The new cost sharing method will be phased in over three years with Windham’s cost per $250,000 home ending up in 2018 at $51 total. Raymond’s portion based on the same $250,000 home would decrease $90. The amount that Windham and Raymond are splitting with this formula applies only to the money that exceeds the amount the State of Maine pays through Essential Programs and Services (EPS) and Windham-Raymond Adult Education. 

Debt service, on new construction that does not change the footprint of a building, would then be paid for with the 64/36 formula, for example if a boiler went at Jordan-Small Middle School, the RSU would fix it. If the new construction changes the footprint of a building the town the construction is in would take on the debt for that building. Any debt that was acquired before the consolidation would stay with that town, except for the Windham High School construction. Raymond agreed to pay according to a percentage of students anticipated would attend WHS. With the new plan, if a student from Raymond attends Windham Middle School and a new school is built, Raymond would pay 1/635 of the cost.    

“The high school was built for 1,300 students instead of the 1,100 students that Windham had,” said Assistant Superintendent Donn Davis. 

Public hearings have been held in Windham and Raymond with another planned for March 18 before the final vote on March 25. 

In Raymond, Joe Brown of Raymond addressed the school board. “I appreciate you going and reconfiguring. Still in the next three years Raymond is paying more than they should,” he said. He finished with “Congratulations on coming back with something workable.” 

Robert Faye of Raymond supports the new cost sharing proposal. “I encourage the Town of Raymond to suspend the disbanding of the RSU,” he said. 

The final vote for the cost sharing formula will be on March 25 at Windham High School Performing Arts Center. The vote will be a show of hands vote. The vote will be at 6 p.m., but there will be a review of the plan starting at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday night, Superintendent Sandy Prince and Davis spoke to the Windham Town Council to explain the formula. In 2019, the school board will look back to the state valuation, take a three year average and then could create the formula for the official cost sharing numbers. 

Councilman Robert Muir was concerned about the turn out for the public hearing and the lack of polling time on March 25. “I want to have open polls at more times,” he said. 

School board chair Marge Govoni said “We would have hoped for more [people]. When people are content they tend to stay home.”  She added that by statute the vote on the plan had to be around March 25 to get it in this year’s budget. She wanted to stress how much work and support has gone into this plan. “I don’t think we could have communicated it any better. I’m very grateful for the amount of feedback from the public.”

REAL School students hit the road for sevice learning - By Elizabeth Richards

Real school students and staff embarked on two separate journeys this week to wrap up two service learning projects students have undertaken this year.
 

Nine students, two staff members, an Americorps volunteer, and a parent volunteer rose early Saturday morning to begin their service learning trip to the Dominican Republic. The group will stay at a mission in La Romana and work in “bateys” in the sugar fields while they are there. In these makeshift villages, students will build water filtration systems for the Haitian refugees living and working there. Additionally, students will help doctors and nurses from the Good Samaritan Hospital in providing basic medical care to the batey communities.

The school year found students preparing for the trip in a variety of ways. “We have been learning Spanish and learning about the culture, and the government and how the bio-sand filters work to purify the water,” said Curtis Arnold, a junior from Portland. “It will be cool to get there and experience everything that we have been learning about!" 

 
Staff member Bear Shea, LCSW said the trip allows students to experience international cultures and give back in an authentic way. In addition, he said, “It also provides them with a unique space to reflect on their own lives, their own communities, and the strengths they have to offer."

Emily Denbow, a senior from Windham, said she is grateful for the opportunity, and prepared to give as much as she can to the often overlooked people in the bateys. “You aren't helpless in your own situation, and you are not helpless when it comes to making a change,” she said. “Doing things like this trip opens up this whole new world of "what else can I do?” 

This year marks the seventh year that students from the REAL School have worked with the mission in La Romana. 

Another team of students and staff left on Tuesday for Washington DC, to deliver the products of their Veterans’ History Project to the Library of Congress. This is a project the REAL school has been involved in for more than a decade. Each year, students interview veterans to capture their stories in video documentaries. They then bring these videos to the Library of Congress, where they are archived as part of the official history of the United States. “When I was in school, I had to read about our country's history - our kids are actually creating history,” said REAL School Principal Pender Makin.

Service Learning is an integral part of the curriculum at the REAL School. According to Makin, these projects allow students to learn and practice cross-curricular concepts and skills. “We work hard to make sure that the products of their academic work have authentic value beyond the classroom,” she said. 

The projects are important in another way as well. Many students at the school have never been given the opportunity to use, or even recognize, the gifts they have within themselves, said Makin. “It's an honor for all of us at REAL School to provide these service learning expeditions that allow students to reach way outside of their comfort zones to impact the world in positive ways. This is life-changing work - for our students and for the communities and individuals they serve.”

A journal entry from one of the students:

"In America, we are separated by all sorts of things; social hierarchies, facial features, body types, clothing, beliefs, and most obviously, technology. While poverty is definitely not unheard of, we have malls, an array of foods, entertainment and opportunities everywhere we turn our eyes to. Generally, necessities are a given, to the point where things that are truly not necessities have become so. In the Dominican, the men and boys will set off into the fields to work under the scorching sun for the equivalent of pennies. Women and girls – many of whom are mothers between the ages of thirteen and sixteen – will stay behind and tend to the children and homemaker tasks. They will keep clean their house the size of your garage, which will averagely house eight people. They will fill buckets of dirty water for themselves and the children; cook a meager meal over hot coals in the already boiling heat, hand-wash and hang the pair or two of clothes they have and watch over the swarm of children running free about the batey." - Emily

Babb's Bridge has re-opened earlier than originally anticipated - By Michelle Libby

Despite the State of Maine DOT telling local legislators that repairs to Babb’s Bridge wouldn’t happen until late spring or June, the work to make the bridge safe was completed and the bridge was reopened on February 27. 
 

The bridge was damaged in a hit and run accident in February. 

“The three legislators met with Dale Doughty…and explained that’s not going to be acceptable. We need to get this done,” said local senator Bill Diamond. 

The first priority was to make the bridge serviceable and to certify that the safety of the structure was sound. There are no new restrictions on the bridge. 

“I think the lull in the weather certainly played into [getting the repairs done early],” said town manager Tony Plante. “I’ve already heard from people who use the bridge on a regular basis that they appreciate it, too.” 

“They went out of their way to get this done,” said Diamond. “We are winners all the way around.”

The fixes were not historically accurate and that will need to be addressed going forward. Diamond said, that the state didn’t commit financially to the historical restoration, but they offered to be a part of the committee that works on that part of the bridge.

Windham Eagle's second annual Top 20 under 20 nominating has begun

Who do you think of when we ask who are the outstanding teens? 

Is it the boy who shovels the walks of all of his elderly neighbors? Is it the girl, who is involved in extracurricular activities and does special things for the community? Is he an Eagle Scout? Or is she a Gold Award recipient? 

These unsung heroes should be recognized and The Windham Eagle wants to do just that. Let’s inform the public who these kids are.

The Windham Eagle newspaper is searching for 20 amazing teens under 20 years old. Who do you know? Tell us a little about them on our online nomination form. Each of the nominees will be asked to answer a thought provoking question and to provide a photograph. These 20 under 20, chosen by the staff at The Windham Eagle will be recognized in the paper in May.

We are looking for teens who go over and above to help their neighbors, have incredible musical or athletic talent, are successful in any way or are just overall amazing teens. We want to know who they are. Anyone can nominate a candidate. 

The 20 under 20 will be featured in a special pull-out section of The Windham Eagle newspaper and will be recognized for their accomplishments with a certificate and special memento. 

The Windham Eagle is asking teachers, leaders, coaches and community members in the area to help support this initiative and nominate students at their school. Nominations should be submitted online no later than Wednesday, April 1 by visiting www.TheWindhamEagle.com/nominate to submit as many people as you see fit.

For more information or with questions, please call 894-3500 or email Michelle@TheWindhamEagle.com.   

Couple's bowling career celebrated with Hall of Fame inductions - By Elizabeth Richards

Three years ago, Allyn Joy was inducted into the International Candlepin Bowling

Association’s Hall of Fame. Last year, his wife Valerie, joined him. It was the final recognition for two long and successful bowling careers.

Allyn started bowling as a child in a league run by his next door neighbor. As he got older, he stepped in for his father in a couples’ league, bowling with his mother. Later, when he was playing in a league at the Big 20 in Saco, the owner took notice as he started to bowl high scores. His career took off from there.

For Valerie, bowling started when she was in her 20s and married. She started out subbing in a couple of different leagues. Dave and Carol Little, who owned Beacon Lanes in Raymond, were instrumental in the beginning of her career, she said. When they saw that she had some talent, they connected her with leagues and tournaments to get her started.

Allyn and Valerie won the first tournament they bowled together, long before they were a couple. “It was one of those things,” Valerie said. “We met bowling, and after a while we got together and will be married 25 years this month.” 

The Joys bowled in tournaments from the 1980s to the early 2000s, traveling in Canada and throughout New England. The couple bowled on a pro tour called the WCBC that is no longer in existence. 

In most leagues, Allyn said, there aren’t more than four averages over 120. Allyn’s average often reached over 130 and Valerie’s average was typically around 120. Bowling a 200 string in candlepin is difficult, towards the top of the range, Valerie added. Allyn bowled 200 seven times, and Valerie also achieved that score. “It’s something that not a lot of bowlers can do,” said Valerie. “A lot of people are happy to bowl 100.” Allyn was the Maine state champion four times in his career, and Valerie won that title twice. 

Both of the Joys made some television appearances while they were competing, and Allyn had a long run on a show for a local cable station. In 1981, Florence Greenleaf wrote “The Game of Candlepin Bowling.” That was one of the years that Allyn won the state championship, and his picture and name showed up in the book. 

To be inducted into the hall of fame, a bowler must be nominated. They must be over 50 years old, and provide documentation of records, wins, TV appearances and more.

For the Joys, getting into the hall of fame is the culmination of two great careers. “We’re all done bowling, so that’s your final award,” said Allyn. 

 “I hoped at some point I would get in because I thought I was a really good bowler,” Valerie said. “You never know if you are going to make it because there are a lot of good bowlers, and a lot of bowlers come out of Massachusetts. For Mainers to get recognition is really nice. It sort of puts a stamp on the end of a career,” she said.

After long and satisfying bowling careers, the Joys said they left at the right time for them. “We didn’t hang around and embarrass ourselves throwing low scores and not being competitive,” said Valerie. “I think we both have a competitive spirit and we wanted to keep winning. You reach a point when you think it’s time.” 

Physical difficulties, family dynamics and the cost of bowling all played into their decision to end their careers when they did. “Bowling was getting more expensive and the prize money was going down, and the numbers were dwindling – it was just the right time to take a step back,” said Allyn.

After they stopped bowling, they began to explore other hobbies, like history, antiquing and golf. And because weekends were often filled with bowling, they found that they enjoyed having the time to just relax at home. “It is so nice to be able to sit home and watch a full football game,” said Valerie with a laugh.

The Joys have an area in their home that celebrates their accomplishments. The walls on each side of the stairwell are dedicated to plaques they have received, and their hall of fame plaques hold a place of honor in the center. “We met a lot of good people over the years,” said Allyn. “We’ve seen a lot of good bowling.”

While there is no physical structure for the hall of fame, a list of those inducted is on the website www.candlepinbowling.com.