The school’s move meant two weeks away from classes, but area nonprofits and businesses made sure children had places to go, things to do, and a community ready to help.
just now
BAR HARBOR—For two weeks, the nonprofits and businesses of Bar Harbor helped the students of Conners Emerson School and their families find other things to do that didn’t include going to classes with their teachers.
That’s because for those two school weeks—October 26 through November 6—the students, teachers, staff, administrators, and workers were all busy moving into a brand new school.
The decision to close the Bar Harbor school buildings completely in the middle of the fall wasn’t an easy one and other potential options were discussed in many school committee meetings, administrative meetings, teacher meetings.
The two-week closure was the best thing to do, they decided, and the safest. It allowed everyone authorized to help move classrooms into the new school do so in a way that focused their attention and kept students safe.
Throughout and after the decision, the biggest worry that remained, however, was what would kids do whose parents or caregivers worked and couldn’t supervise them for those weeks.
The community took care of that worry.
Nonprofit after nonprofit stepped up, recruited staff and volunteers, created programming, and opened their doors to the kids who needed them.
It was a big deal in a news cycle that often focuses on discord, on battles over cruise ships, water rates, lodging development, and other things. These two weeks at these area nonprofits have been something entirely different; they’ve been about joining together, thinking creatively, and helping Bar Harbor’s young families.
It was a big deal because community stepped up. Not just for a moment. But for two entire school weeks.
In June 2023, Bar Harbor voters passed a $58 million bond to rebuild the ailing schools and support the town’s K-8 population. Broken boilers, rain inundation, a wall pulling away from the foundation, poor air exchanges, limited classroom space, and a lack of insulation are just some of the buildings’ recent problems.
The bond passed 1,005 to 502. The project had a groundbreaking ceremony that included the students in November 2024.
Then the building began and in two years it was move-in-ready.
Conners Emerson Vice Principal Michael Fournier said at a Bar Harbor School Committee meeting in September that the school felt pretty confident that every kid who wants to head to one of those community partners will be able to.
“I can’t say how incredible these partners have been,” he’d told the Bar Harbor School Committee.
Those partners included the MDI YMCA, Summer Festival of the Arts, Camp Beech Cliff, the Jesup Memorial Library, and the YWCA MDI. ArtWaves also offered classes. Reel Pizza held a movie day before it closed for the summer.
Fournier’s sentiment hasn’t changed since September, but as Abby Morrow, a representative of one of the partners—Jesup Memorial Library—said in an email, it took a lot of people to make it work.
“I would like to thank everyone, on stage and off, who has made this program possible. Thank you to the school board and the entire CES community for your support. Dr. Webster and Michael Fournier have provided so much guidance and continue to do so during their own school transition,” Morrow, youth service librarian at the Jesup, said.
It was a litany of thanks for Morrow.
“Thank you to the ed techs, bus driver, and food services department for helping to make this possible. Thank you to Ashley Mathews and Cat Owens at the YMCA for being great partners in this program. Thank you to Andrew Simon for inspiring our kids to participate in live theater. Thank you to Tami and everyone at SFOA, and Matt and everyone at CBC, for their collaboration. Thank you to Reel Pizza, Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers, and Mr. Drew and his animals for making our camp extra special. Thank you to the camp kids and their families.”
The Jesup and the YMCA worked together on one camp, Morrow explained.
“The kids were at the Y from 8-10 in the morning and at the library from 10-3 Monday-Friday,” Morrow said.
At the Y, they could choose pool time, time in the gym or outside, and art stations.
“At the library, they worked with theater teacher Andrew Simon to adapt a folktale and these plays were performed at the end of each week.
The plays were giddy whirlwinds of joy and energy, prancing, fake tears, jail breaks, and more.
Some parents and other children watched in the library’s new space, laughing and applauding wildly while some of the youngest of actors took their bows.
The students worked in the library’s makerspace for those plays, creating props, costumes, puppets and sets.
“Kids had time each day in the library’s Kid Zone to color, read, listen to Wonderbooks, listen to stories during storytime, and build with Super Space tiles,” Morrow explained. “We had a special movie afternoon at Reel Pizza during the first week, a performance from Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers during the first week, and a presentation from Mr. Drew and his Animals, Too.”
According to Morrow, the library’s expansion made it all possible.
“We now have the space and amenities to host 40+ kids for camp, Many generous community members made the expansion a reality. We are very grateful for their support,” Morrow said.
School resumes Monday, November 9. The Conners Emerson School Public Surplus Property Sale is today, Saturday, November 7, it began at 8 a.m. at the school.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
When Conners Emerson Closes for Two Weeks, the Community Will Help Take Care of the Kids.
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Sep 21
Unless otherwise specified, photos: Shaun Farrar and Carrie Jones/Bar Harbor Story
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