Hannah Phelps, Steve Stroud, Cara Ryan

Oct 12, 2025

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

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In Favor of a School Resource Officer in Tremont

To the Tremont School Committee,

As a resident of Tremont and the parent of a future Tremont School student, I feel compelled to share my deep concern about the discussion surrounding the need for a school resource officer (SRO) in our community.

I recognize that setting policies and priorities is always complex and requires careful consideration. I also understand that one of the biggest concerns raised in the meeting was the presence of an armed officer at the school. However, the benefits of having a school resource officer clearly outweigh the perceived risks. I am reassured by knowing that a trained, trusted professional would be on-site and prepared to respond effectively in the unlikely event of an emergency. To me, that presence represents safety and preparedness — not fear.

We live in a time when sending our children to school — a place where they should feel safe, supported, and free to learn — comes with a level of worry that parents never used to have.

Every news story about violence or crisis in a school brings a quiet fear that we try not to dwell on, but it’s always there. I want to know that when I send my child to Tremont School, every reasonable step has been taken to keep them safe.

An SRO is so much more than a security presence. They are a familiar face — someone who gets to know the students, builds trust, and becomes part of the school family. For many kids, that relationship can make all the difference. It helps them see law enforcement as approachable, caring, and human. It helps parents, like me, feel that there is one more person watching out for our children in a world that can sometimes feel unpredictable.

As a former student of Conners Emerson and MDI High School, I had the privilege of learning in an environment with an SRO — Officer Tim (Bland) — whose impact extended far beyond security. He was a trusted presence in the halls, often seen talking with students, playing basketball in the gym, or offering a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He was available to every student, not just a few, and his presence created a sense of comfort, trust, and safety that stayed with us long after we left those classrooms. I want my child, and every child in Tremont, to have that same sense of connection and reassurance.

Having an SRO on-site is not about expecting danger; it’s about being prepared for it. It’s about prevention, presence, and peace of mind. A trained officer brings the ability to respond immediately in an emergency, but also the chance to build positive relationships with students, teach them about safety, and help them make good choices long before problems ever arise.

Mount Desert Elementary, Conners Emerson, and MDI High School already benefit from the presence of an SRO who serves as both protector and mentor. Likewise, Tremont and Pemetic students would share their own officer, ensuring that both communities receive equal access to the same level of safety, support, and connection that other island schools already experience.

Our children deserve nothing less.

As a parent, I cannot ignore how much the world has changed. The challenges our children face today — from online threats and social pressures to mental health struggles and real safety risks — require proactive measures, not reactive ones. A school resource officer is one of those measures. Their role provides not only protection, but a visible reminder to parents and students alike that safety is a shared priority.

I urge the committee to carefully consider this opportunity and to move forward with the inclusion of an SRO serving both Tremont and Pemetic Schools. This decision isn’t about fear — it’s about responsibility. It’s about ensuring that every child, teacher, and staff member has the reassurance that someone is there whose sole purpose is to keep them safe.

Thank you for your time, your leadership, and your commitment to our community’s children.

Sincerely,

Hannah Chamberlain Phelps

Tremont

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Murphy’s Law and Angels

On the 7th of October with the sun out and a picturesque view of Northeast Harbor, it’s safe to say my mind was elsewhere as I strolled from the parking lot in front of Copita and Swallowfield while attempting to put my car keys into my front pocket and then watched in desperation and horror as they flew in a low, fast arc through the grates of a storm gutter.

My deep thanks to Patrick, Leticia, and Austin of Island Bike Rental for their quick collaboration and sacrifice of a metal clothes hanger, to Tom of FT Brown for unknowingly allowing me to borrow a long-handled broom left by his side door, and to the dry weather and well-maintained storm drain system.

This serendipitous confluence of people, weather, and place allowed me to flee the scene and minimize my shame.

Steve Stroud

Northeast Harbor

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No on Question 1

To the Editor:

As we enter another election and holiday season, old Scrooge’s favorite word, humbug, feels strangely relevant. Question 1 on our state ballot is premised on nothing but motivated, dangerous humbug, also known as disinformation. It wants us to believe 1. there’s fraud in Maine’s elections and 2. the hurdles this legislation would introduce would reduce that fraud. Neither is true. The real goal of this fearmongering campaign is simply to discourage voting.

Thanks to decades of work by nonpartisan volunteers, Maine’s election system is among the strongest and cleanest in the country. We also lead in voter turnout. One of the great tools of democracy making this possible is the absentee ballot: 61% of all Maine seniors who voted in 2024 voted by absentee ballot. Passage of Question 1 would make this harder by eliminating requests for recurring absentee ballots, as well as all authorized third-party and phone requests. It would reduce the number of ballot boxes and critical days for voting. It would require IDs at the polls and undermine town clerk integrity. This referendum would make 28 changes to our elections and not one of them is necessary or good.

Democracy is a fragile thing. Maine’s proud history of supporting its citizens so that every voice is counted is threatened when disinformation sows fear and doubt. Surely in Maine we know humbug when we see it. Please vote No on 1.

Cara Ryan

Bar Harbor