Community Voices
This space is dedicated to sharing perspectives, personal stories, and insights of residents across Durham, Freeport, and Pownal.
To start, we have included the comments shared during the change.org petition to Oppose the Dissolution of Pownal Elementary School. Over 1,200 neighbors, parents, and community members across Durham, Freeport, and Pownal signed the petition.
“Pownal Elementary School is an incredibly special place. This change would be devastating to the community and these families.”
-Caroline
“When my partner and I start a family, it’s important to us that our children have a good education in a nice community. Pownal Elementary School is where we want to send our children. Please consider all of the people opposing this decision and do not close this school”
-Amanda
“I have watched what this great school has given to my granddaughter. Would love to see it continue to thrive in this wonderful community of Pownal.”
-Jack
“My own feelings are articulated so well in this petition. I will only add that moving district-wide early ed to Pownal will not benefit the other towns either. Can you imagine the transporting of young kids from the far ends of Freeport/Durham to PES?”
-Melissa
“As a former school board member and parent of two children who went to Pownal schools, I support the continuation of our local school. With outstanding community involvement we did innovative programs exploring local history. Students studied Pownal’s wetlands, birds, wildflowers, as well as barns and farming history of Pownal. Classes interviewed elders in the community who went to one room school houses in town and archived those documents. We started the first non profit in the state that raised private funds to support innovative programs for the public schools. There is great strength in being small.”
-Eleanor
“I am a former RSU5 Board Member. I served during Freeport's attempt to leave RSU5. At the time, there was a contingent in Pownal who also wanted to leave the RSU. My position has always been that it was best for Pownal to be within our 3-town alliance. One of the central commitments that was made to our community when the RSU was formed was that our elementary students would remain here in Pownal. I urge our new board members and Superintendent to baseline their vision for RSU5 against the core principles that were established as the framework upon which our regional school unit was formed. Revisit those meeting minutes, the founding agreement, the newspaper articles. Understand the history, the bargaining, the compromises, and the commitments that were made to get us where we are today. My children attended PES and once they reached 6th grade and were sent to FMS we lost connection with the school and families. My children reflect on PES as the best part of their primary educational experience. The school is welcoming and we were able to be involved with our children's education. We knew all the families, the teachers, the office staff, and the principal. More importantly, they all knew us too!!”
-Kathryn
“As we address the current budget shortfall, early childhood mandates, and disproportionate costs, I am writing to express my concerns regarding Scenario 2. Scenario 2 is creative and ambitious. But it is also a significant structural shift. It involves building modifications, transportation redesign, staffing reorganization, curriculum realignment, and cultural transitions between school communities. Each of those elements carries financial and operational uncertainty. When combined, the complexity multiplies. Scenario 2 introduces variables that are difficult to fully model in advance. In a period of tight budgets, that level of uncertainty carries a lot of risk. Scenario 2 proposes to dismantle Pownal Elementary School and repurpose it as an early childhood school. Pownal is a highly engaged school community. PES is not just a building; it is the community anchor. Scenario 2 asks one community to give up its anchor entirely. Scenario 2 is not an equitable solution. Scenario 2 is plausible from the perspective of buildings and student head count. Each student will have a chair and a desk. Each student will occupy fewer square feet and require fewer teachers. At first glance, it meets the goal of overall efficiency of RSU5 as a whole. However, disrupting a school that is currently functioning well puts the efficiency goal at risk. One criteria for efficiency must be the actual education of the students. I saw one ranking that placed Pownal as number 13 out of 288 elementary schools in the state last year and number 2 the year before that. The headline doesn’t sound right, “RSU5 dismantles one of the best schools in the state”. There is also a broader district consideration. If a structural change is perceived by one town as disproportionately harmful, it introduces the risk of long-term division within the district. Given the risks and unfairness associated with Scenerio 2, I think it is worth while to explore and develop Scenario 1. This approach allows the district to: - Minimize Uncertainty: Implement manageable, targeted changes. - Address Mandates: Explore public-private partnerships or phased implementations for early childhood education without repurposing existing schools. - Resolve Cost Imbalances: Utilize less disruptive tools, such as opening inter-district enrollment to families in Freeport and Durham who may wish to attend Pownal. - Manage the Budget Equitably: Explore options to address shortfalls without placing a disproportionate burden on one specific community. Scenario 1 protects what is currently working while providing the necessary time to plan responsibly for the future. I ask the board to choose this path to minimize disruption, reduce risk, and ensure a balanced benefit for all communities in RSU5. Mark Dohle Pownal Dad”
-Mark
“I went to Pownal Elementary School kindergarten thru 8th grade. I cant imagine my home town closing this school.”
-Julie
“As a mom of two young children in Pownal, I strongly oppose the dissolution of PES. It was a major reason we chose to move to this town!”
-Sarah
“Closing PES would only detract from equity in the district and would be devastating to our community.”
-Jesse
“As a long term member of the SAD 62 board before and during the consolidation, member of the RPC committee negotiating and rallying AGAINST the takeover, and as a member of the first RSU 5 board, I would like to remind all of us that it is possible to leave this union. It would be hard, costly at the beginning, and require community effort. But it is possible. We were bulldozed into this consolidation, paying a 26% tax increase the first year (compared to Durham’s 7% increase; Freeport’s decrease of 1%), ceded our land and building to the RSU, and accepted that our board representation equals 1 vote total between our two representatives (Freeport has 6 votes and Durham has 3). Those with the power will always control Pownal’s purse strings.”
-Jen
“I was on the school board as a Pownal representative when grades 6-8 were moved to Freeport Middle School. There was some discussion at several meetings but one day a motion was made to move grades 6-8 to Freeport, it was seconded, a vote followed and it was done. If my memory is correct the RSU agreement does not require Town of Pownal/ resident input to make such a move, only approval of the school board. There need to be discussions with the superintendent, the school board chair, the Pownal school board members and an organized citizens group to make sure this process proceeds fairly and creates a result desired by the people of Pownal.”
-Jonathan
“I have close friends with two kids currently attending Pownal elementary school. They could not be better supported in the classroom and beyond. The teachers and parents are working hard to create community and friendship and meet the needs of the families who attend. I can’t begin to count the stories they’ve shared about events and activities and programs the school has hosted. Growing up in Maine is all about the community. Your town. Your neighbors. Closing this school is the antithesis of Maine culture. Keep this school funded and open so this community and these families can flourish in safety and connection.”
-India
“I taught at Pownal Elementary School for 20 years of my 29-year teaching career. It is an amazing school and community. My children also attend for early elementary when I could get a superintendent's agreement to allow them to go there. I couldn't ask for a better start for my kids' personal academic growth, at a time when Pownal Elementary School was rated in the top 10 elementary schools in the state of Maine. Pownal is a small community that used to be a stand-alone district without a high school because the local towns didn't want to partner with such a small town. Back in the 1990s, we had to tuition our high schoolers to the local high schools. Then the idea of school consolidation came along and Pownal residents were scared that joining a larger district like Freeport would change our identity and give us a smaller voice in district-wide decisions, and it did almost immediately. Within two years of consolidation, the district eliminated our 7th and 8th grade classes and shifted them to Freeport Middle School. The following year the 6th grade moved over there as well. Many programs were eliminated to create equity across the district, which meant we lost our elementary foreign language program and FLL robotics teams. We fought to keep a full-time PE teacher, as well as PE swimming lessons for grades 1-5. I hear the term 'small class sizes' being used a lot, but basically the class size is however many kids were born in a given year. I've taught classes in Pownal with 10 students and classes with 25 students. We had one large class followed by a significantly smaller class and were able to create two multi-age classrooms to accommodate the needs for those learners. Those small changes aren't easy to do in larger districts. Many positions were reduced after consolidation as well. I taught computer/STEM classes and my time at PES changed from 100% to 50% to 40% over the next few years, as I was asked - along with the Art, Music, and Library teachers - to split my time between two schools in the district. I've worked at a private school, PES, and another public school. Pownal has the best sense of community of any of those schools. When two beloved teachers retired, the entire community was invited for a potluck. Over 300 guests came and wished the retirees well. When the principal retired a few years later, we saw a similar-sized gathering. The school is the center of the community not only for education but for recreation and socialization. I always joked that every open house was like an alumni reunion and town gathering in the hallways. Losing this school will be a huge loss to the town and students. Finally, there's something about small schools. I know they might not be the most cost-effective model, but they deliver on academics. When I taught there, I knew every kid by name, who their siblings and parents were, what they did outside of school for hobbies and sports, and those kids' academic and behavioral strengths and weaknesses. When you get to know kids that much, they know you're invested in them, and they work harder for you because of it. In larger schools, a classroom teacher might know most of those things, but not everyone from the librarian to the bus driver. In Pownal, they do, and it makes a difference in how those kids are taught. Dissolving small schools to save money but sacrifice quality is a good model if you're manufacturing soda, but it isn't a good model when the end goal is a child's education.”
-Kari
“I attended Pownal Elementary School from kindergarten to 5th grade. My dad and uncle attended Pownal Elementary School from pre-k to 8th grade. One of my little cousins still attends, and the other two graduated and went to FMS. And I will be the first to say this school must remain open. Some of my fondest childhood memories are from this school. The small class sizes allow for a close-knit community to foster amongst each class. Long after leaving, many of us still keep in contact, even after high school graduation. And I know many others who would agree with this sentiment. And the quality of education each individual student receives cannot be denied. Closing this school would be a tragedy to the Pownal community. And just looking at the numbers more people are moving to the area, with an average of 11 housing permits being granted per year (The Town of Pownal, 2021 Comprehensive Plan) and the population having increased 6% since 2020 (meaning roughly a 1.5% increase around per year) (U.S. Census). As the population continues to increase, we are going to need more classrooms. Closing Pownal right now would force the Freeport and Durham schools to accommodate an unprecedented extra 15-20 kids per class, which would lead to overcrowding and a lower quality of education per student. And as more people continue to move here, this number will only increase. Not to mention that the quality of education in the United States is already a huge issue. Shutting down a school that fosters quality education would be completely ridiculous. Closing Pownal Elementary School does not make sense when considering the growing population of the RSU5 school system and the school's overall place in the heart of the Pownal community.”
-Natalie
“My children attended Pownal Elementary School, and it was one of the key reasons our family chose to live in this community. PES gave our kids a wonderful foundation, and I would hate to see that opportunity taken away from the families who count on it today. I understand the district is facing financial pressures, but closing a neighborhood school should be the absolute last resort, not the first scenario to explore. Schools like PES are the backbone of small communities. Once you close them, you don't get them back. I'd urge the Board to listen carefully to the parents and families who will actually be affected by this decision. Budget spreadsheets don't capture what a school means to a community, and our kids deserve better than having their education restructured for the sake of cost savings.”
-Jeremy
“My son attends and loves PES and I absolutely do not support this dissolution. It is inequitable and students struggle with academics, growth and development, and mental health issues with each school transition. Adding more transitions, not just for Pownal students but for the district’s youngest students, is nonsensical. We moved here specifically for the community element of Pownal and PES and I am floored that this would even be considered. Balancing the district’s needs on the backs of Pownal students is unacceptable. What makes PES special is the community that comes together support that. Making the building an early childhood center will eliminate this community culture.”
-Meaghan
“I’m James Seely I love Pownal elementary school because I went there and it helped my parents and me and my friends all make a close bond and I hope that that doesn’t change. I’m only in sixth grade, but I hope my voice makes a change.”
-James
“Hey my name is Milo Robinson I don’t think you should get rid of Pownal even tho I don’t attend Pownal anymore I deeply care about this issue. Pownal school and is such a nice community and I want kids to have the nice and fun experience that I had in Elementary school.”
-Milo
“As an owner of a vacant lot in Pownal, I don't want to see the Pownal School changed. It's a great school that turns out great kids, because it smaller and the kids really bond together and get a good foundation.”
-Angela
“I grew up in Pownal, I attended PES until I was headed into middle school. I personally thrived on the small setting, I knew every single teacher, fellow student, lunch lady, and bus driver. There is no argument for them not being able to prepare children for larger schools being so small because I can safely say they prepped me for the “big” Freeport middle school better than any other school could have, because again, we were ALL close net. I can’t imagine PES not being a school. If it isn’t, it will be a shame. Pownal kids were always looked down upon because our town was so small. We were nothings compared to the others that came from the big towns with fun things to do. At the end of the day though us “Pownal kids” had each other. We had each other since the very beginning. I will always support my Pownal community. No one will ever understand how important that “small” school was for any of us in our development because well, they weren’t there. You can’t say they don’t have enough support for children when you are actively trying to take their only support away. Think about your actions before you find out you can’t handle the backlash/consequences from the community! Instead of taking the school away that has held most children together even into their older years, try taking away things that are not necessary for the community. That no one benefits from because I’m sure there are things you can think of…”
-Jasmen
“Education here was so personalized for each person as you were not lost in the crowd. Such a strength and influence on how I grew as a person and values I instilled in my own children.”
-Christina
“I have a 1 year old son and when he gets old enough I would like him to go to the Pownal elementary school.”
-Brian
“Even though I no longer reside in Pownal, I care deeply about this issue. I went to PES from pre-K to 8th grade. I was in the last class to graduate 8th grade from Pownal. During the fall, the middle school band would march and play in the parade for the Pownal Pumpkin Festival. There was a school wide contest where students would submit their own fall themed artwork, and one lucky kid got their art published on the Pumpkin festival shirts for that year. They also got a ride in a fire truck during the parade that everyone gathered to watch. I was fortunate enough to have won in 2006, I’m so thankful I have that core memory and I still have the shirt. In the winter, we would go snowshoeing, cross country skiing, rollerblading or skating on the home built rink(depending on grade level). How often have you heard about those activities happening in P.E. at a school? In the spring, we would have the musical and cabaret, our science teachers would take us outside and utilize our incredible school grounds for lessons, and our robotics team would clean sweep meets. And let’s not forget the unique class/school field trips we got to go on (canoeing runaround pond, and mystery trips to name a few). We had sports year round for all grades. Cross country, soccer, basketball, softball/baseball. Which, Pownal was always one of the best teams to face. In the summer there was soccer camp and endless trails to explore right behind the school. Our teachers knew a lot of us from even before we got to their class because they would see us in the halls in the younger grades. Yes the grade sizes were small, but they were mighty. And because of the smaller class sizes, we could get SO much more out of everything that was offered to us. For me personally (and MANY previous PES students), integrating into the high school was not hard. When getting to high school, PES students, like all the students from Durham and Freeport, we were just anxious little freshmen, no matter where we came from. Not only do I strongly oppose the dissolution of Pownal Elementary School, I urge there to be consideration to bring back the middle school. We were so rich in academics, the arts, sports, clubs and so much more. Keep the kids of Pownal in this amazing and rare community as long as possible. Keep Pownal Elementary School open.”
-Kelsey
“There should be elementary schools in every neighborhood! this is children's first step in schooling and socializing within communities. Their horizons can expand when they are older!”
-Pamela M
“My grandchildren have thrived in the embrace of the Pownal Elementary environment.”
-Mary Lou
“We are going through a similar situation in our small rural town in NC. We support you in your endeavors and hope you are successful!”
-Amy