Plans for student safety as they head to and leave school continuing
Jan 08, 2026
BAR HARBOR—At its meeting, Monday, January 5, the Bar Harbor School Committee continued to try to hash out a draft calendar for the upcoming school year, which was only distributed to the committee members during the meeting and passed back to Principal Dr. Heather Weir Webster.
Making next year’s calendar complicated is that it depends on a state waiver that allows the elementary school to reduce the number of mandated school days by four. It would add staff-only days to meet contractural obligations.
The other complication is that there is a new multi-million-dollar school being built and expected to be substantially complete on October 13. Some zones of the building have been painted and drywalled and have ceilings and plumbing. Other zones are having mechanical installations. Another is being roughed in for electricity.
“We’re still on course for October 13,” Dr. Weir Webster said of the new school’s completion date.
The construction of the new school will replace the two current buildings, which have had multiple leaks, boiler issues, and structural issues.
The staff will have to move their equipment and classrooms from the old school buildings to the new ones, which isn’t expected to be a quick process.
“There’s going to be so many new things that are coming their way,” Dr. Weir Webster said of the teachers and staff and change at a December meeting.
There would likely be no school for two weeks during the transition. How parent-teacher conferences might work, when they’d be, if they’d be virtual or not, how snow day make-ups would occur (potentially on two May Saturdays) and professional development day placements, as well as moving days, all come into the equation, as well as the regular calendar for other MDI region schools.
Those Saturdays in May are prom weekend and Mother’s Day weekend, with the potential dates on May 8 and May 22.
The school calendar for next year is still in draft form and has had some suggestions and questions from some staff members who talked about parent-teacher conferences, personal development days and other logistical questions.
The newest version has a professional development day in August and a teacher moving day in October. There would be a half-day on December 23 and other tweaks have occurred because of the state website’s process for asking for waivers for school days.
The are two potential added days in June, which would have Bar Harbor students (not in high school) in school later than others in the school system.
School Committee Chair Marie Yarborough and Vice Chair Misha Mytar reiterated concerns about virtual conferences and the current calendar’s small allotment of time designated for those conferences.
Potentially the early release day could be used and another week used, Dr. Weir Webster said, but she added that the teacher’s anxiety with the looming move combined with the stress of parent-teacher conferences might be a poor combination for the teachers. She expects to solicit feedback and suggestions from the teachers at a staff meeting next week.
Even during the January 5 meeting, Dr. Weir Webster came up with potential ideas and changes and ways to expand opportunities.
Yarborough said she wanted to acknowledge the high school’s shift of how parent-teacher conferences are done, which she was not in favor of, and also acknowledge the stress on parents and elementary school teachers.
A shift at one school sometimes impacts the structures and positive things that happen in other schools, she said. She’s just nervous of setting a virtual standard at the Conners Emerson School and does not want to lose in-person parent-teacher conference.
“There’s nothing like walking into a classroom here and sitting down with teachers,” she said.
Committee member Mike Kiers said it’s important to talk about how closing the school for two weeks will be impacting kids and families and keeping as much normalcy for students and families as possible.
“There’s going to be huge impacts on families,” Kiers said.
The Conners Emerson calendar would be approved at the same time as the AOS calendar.
SIDEWALK SAFETY AND YMCA TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
Yarborough said that she has sent a letter to the Bar Harbor town manager expressing the school board’s desire for the YMCA’s bus service to continue again. In its memo of understanding (MOU) with the town, the Y had provided bus services for children going there afterschool.
That letter was received, Yarborough said.
“I know that the town manager is going to be working on that,” she said.
Over the next few months, the manager will be reaching out to Dr. Weir Webster and Superintendent Mike Zboray over the school needs related to the MOU, she said. The committee will be updated about the MOU’s contents.
“If we don’t like it, we can send it back or we can offer some suggestions,” Yarborough said.
They’re also working on overall student safety, looking at how students are moved in the community to the school. They’ll be focussing on needs, working with School Resource Officer Elias Burne as well and then discussing with Bar Harbor Public Works Director Bethany Leavitt.
“It’s not just about the buses. It’s not just about the sidewalks,” Yarborough said of the plan.
She said she’d also received an email from a parent who was concerned about students leaving.
“So, it’s in the minds of the community and it’s important for a lot of reasons,” Yarborough said.
RULES OF PUBLIC COMMENT
Though there were no members of the public attending other than reporters, Yarborough shared with the other members the rules of public comment and how it’s not meant to be a back and forth between the public and the committee members, but a time to hear public thoughts and statements. Similarly, she explained that committee members are meant to raise their hands and be acknowledged prior to speaking. She said this was all discussed at the larger school system board meeting (AOS).
OTHER UPDATES
Dr. Weir Webster said there have been two new students that arrived January 5. A few unenrolled and went to warmer places, but they expect many back in the spring.
Ash Cray is now full-time staff as an ed tech.
The staff had a holiday social at Pizzeria 131. Ten teams competed in the holiday trivia game.
“They are so welcoming down there,” Dr. Weir Webster said of the restaurant.
Many staff members also participated in “You’ve Been Mugged” where participants receive a mug of gifts prior to break.
One class is going to a boy and girl basketball game at the high school.
Another class decorated 96 cookies for the construction workers and delivered them to the construction crew working on the new school.
“They feel a special connection with the crew since they see them outside of the window,” Dr. Weir Webster said.
Winter concerts were amazing, she added.
“I thought they were our best yet,” Dr. Weir Webster said. She gave a shout out to music teacher Sonia Berghoff and Daniel Granholm, band and orchestra teacher, for making them possible. We have a strong rebuild of our music program happening post covid.
The gifted and talented committee has implemented district testing for grades 2, 5, and 8 with the CoGat test. This will happen in the next month.
Teachers will be sending out report cards mid-January. They are now finishing up units and giving mid-year assessments. Outdoor Club is planning a ski trip for middle school this winter.
PTSA collected applications for its teacher grants last month. They will be reviewing the applications and awarding grants this month.
“Of course, we have the best PTSA in the world,” Dr. Weir Webster said.
Photos: Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story
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