Tremont Select Board Recognizes Achievement of Tremont Consolidated School Biology Teacher Tonya Prentice
Also Begins to Fine Tune Deer Hunt and Fills Planning Board Seat
Nov 19, 2025
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana.
TREMONT—When a small-town teacher is among only 27 teachers nationwide, and the only teacher in Maine, to win an award, that feat deserves some extra recognition. At least, that is the sentiment that the Tremont Select Board projected at its November 17 meeting when it unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the “outstanding achievement” of Tremont Consolidated School biology teacher Tonya Prentice for being awarded the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT).
Select Board Chair Jamie Thurlow said, “We would like to recognize Tonya for her Outstanding Biology Teacher Award that she received from the National Association of Biology Teachers and to thank her for her outstanding service that she has given the town and our school.”
After Thurlow presented Prentice with a plaque and some flowers, board member Kevin Buck said, “I would just kind of like to add that I think Tonya keeps stacking these awards out. She is just this incredible asset to the town right now. I would like her to know that we all really recognize that and respect it and really would like to say thanks for the incredible job you are doing. And the kids, I mean, you are a teacher that the kids even love, which is kind of a challenge. Everything I hear and I see that you are doing is just amazing and I would like to personally thank you for that. Please keep it up.”
“I’m deeply honored to receive the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, but the real celebration belongs to my students and the Tremont community. Their curiosity, support, and enthusiasm make teaching a joy and push me to grow continually as an educator. Helping students explore the ecosystems that surround us, especially here in such a remarkable place, is endlessly rewarding. Whether we’re out in the salt marsh, snowshoeing the trails, or observing the changing coastline, my students get to experience science in action. This community and this landscape shape everything I do as an educator, and I’m grateful every day to be a part of it,” Prentice told the Bar Harbor Story.
According to the NABT website, “Every year, the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award (OBTA) program attempts to recognize an outstanding biology educator (grades 7-12 only) in each of the 50 states; Washington, DC; Puerto Rico, Canada; and overseas territories. A major portion of the nominee’s career must have been devoted to the teaching of biology/life science, and candidates are judged on their teaching ability and experience, cooperativeness in the school and community, and student-teacher relationships.”
APPOINTMENT TO PLANNING BOARD
The select board appointed Stephen Scott to the planning board to fill the seat that was left empty when Mark Good resigned on September 22. Scott and James Hopkins both applied for the position; however, Hopkins is not currently a resident of Tremont which is a requirement for appointment to town boards and committees.
Thurlow said, “The only thing I can see, I think both of them would do an unbelievably good job. The only thing is, James, you’re currently not living in town, so I don’t know if that, it says in our ordinance that you have to be a resident to be on a board. So, that would be the only, the only issue. I think that you would do a fantastic job. I’d love to see you do it, um, that’s just my only hold back on that.”
“I agree, that’s tricky,” said Vice Chair McKenzie Jewett.
Hopkins said that the only property he owns and plans to own is in Tremont but currently he and his family are staying with other family members in another town while they rehabilitate the farmhouse on their Tremont property.
All of the select board members seemed happy to have had two qualified candidates apply for the seat but due to Hopkins not being a current resident, there was no opportunity for debate or decision making and they unanimously appointed Scott to the position which expires June 30, 2026.
POSSIBLE DEER HUNTING SEASON
Following the select board’s August discussion about a possible deer hunting season in Tremont, Town Manager Jesses Dunbar said that he has been in contact with the state, informing them of the general direction that the town is heading for a proposed hunt and getting input from the state.
Dunbar said that based upon feedback from the state and from looking at special hunt plans submitted by other towns it appears as though Tremont’s proposal to the state needs to be specific in why they want a deer hunting season and make sure the rationale is based upon resident input on why the hunt is needed.
Buck and member Eric Eaton both said that in some of the sample applications that were provided they noticed that a requirement of the hunt was to only hunt from a fixed position, a ground blind, or tree stand. They both felt that this requirement would address many of the safety concerns.
There was conversation regarding whether or not the hunt should be archery only or allow the use of shotguns as well. The decision was made to include shotguns on the draft plan and see what comments are made at an upcoming public hearing.
A time component needs to be a part of the special hunt application so that the town can easily end the hunt the following year if it doesn’t work out or extend the hunt for more years if it is a success. Starting with a one-year hunt seemed to be acceptable to the board as a whole.
Eaton suggested that not just a landowner be allowed to hunt on their property, but also household members or other family members. Thurlow said that he felt that for the first year, the hunt should be limited to landowners.
When it comes to how many deer each hunter can harvest, Eaton suggested just asking the state if the town’s hunt could be a part of the state’s wildlife management district (WMD) 29 antlerless deer permit program. The town lies within WMD 29 and the state already has an antlerless permit system for the district in which each hunter is allowed one buck, which comes with the hunting license, and then can purchase as many antlerless deer permits as they want until the state’s allotment has been exhausted.
Dunbar took notes on the discussion and was tasked with coming up with a draft plan to submit to residents at public hearing.
AMERICAN FLAG INSTALLATIONS
The select board unanimously approved a request to purchase American Flag kits for $60 per kit from World of Flags USA to be placed on utility poles in Tremont. The flags will be spaced on every other pole and will be focused around the high traffic areas of Route 102 and Route 102A around the area of the triangle with the exact locations to be determined.
OTHER BUSINESS
SELECT BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE
The select board voted unanimously to accept a preliminary and “not set in stone” schedule for the upcoming calendar year.
FY2027 BUDGET PREPARATION CALENDAR
The select board also voted unanimously to accept a budget preparation schedule for the upcoming budget season to build out the FY2027 budget.
QUITCLAIM DEEDS
The select board unanimously approved the signing of three quitclaim release deeds for Jeffrey C. Rich. Liens were placed on Rich’s properties last year for nonpayment of property taxes; however, Rich had actually paid his taxes for his properties and the liens based upon nonpayment was due to a glitch in the software, TRIO, that the town uses for property tax accounting.
Thurlow said that while this was not the fault of any of the town office staff, “I think that we should make sure that they know that we feel bad about it and we apologize.”
Member Howard “Howdy” Goodwin had an excused absence for the November 17, 2025 meeting.
The next meeting of the Tremont Select Board is scheduled for December 1, 2025, at 5 p.m., in the Harvey Kelley Meeting Room at the town office.
All photos: Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story
HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY
Thank you so much for being here with us.
We keep our news free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories take time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.
If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.
Even $5 a month makes a difference. Or click here to become a one-time supporter now.
Founding member information can be found here.
Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.
Discover more from Bar Harbor Story
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.