R. W. Traip Academy held its graduation at 6 p.m. June 12 in the school gymnasium. The following students rose to the top 10 in the Class of 2015.

HALEY PEREIRA, valedictorian
Haley is the daughter of Scott and Colleen Pereira. Haley was involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, Team Green, and Project Search, a program offered by the University of New Hampshire. Haley was active in varsity soccer, indoor track and track & field. She was named to the Western Maine Conference All-Academic team in all three sports this year. As a junior, Haley received the Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit, and she was named a Rotary Student of the Month on two occasions during her senior year. Haley plans to study criminology and psychology at Saint Michael’s College.

CLARA HANNIGAN, co-salutatorian
Clara is a daughter of Daniel and Bonnie Hannigan. While at Traip Academy, Clara was activein the Student Council and the National Honor Society. She was an active member of the Dramatic Arts group and had roles in “Pippen” and “Once Upon a Mattress” during her sophomore and senior years. Clara was also involved in Project Search, a program offered by UNH. Clara is an accomplished vocalist and a competitive step dancer who is currently ranked 17th in New England. She was selected by audition for the 2014 and 2015 All State Music Festivals. In the fall, Clara intends to study dance science at Elon University.

CAMILLE WILLIAMS, co-salutatorian
Camille is the the daughter of Alexander and Sherry Williams. As a military child, Camille attended four high schools during her secondary school career. She was active with Student-to-Student, Interact, Robotics, and Student Council. In the community, Camille has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Homes for Troops. Her post-secondary plans include attending California Polytechnic State University, where she will major in food science with a minor in military science. She intends to join ROTC at Cal Poly.

ELORA MCCUDDY
Elora is the daughter of Rebecca & Aaron Johnson and Michael and Kara McCuddy. She is ranked third among the Class of 2015. She is a member of the National Honor Society and served as the Student Council President during her senior year. Elora served as a student representative during the school’s recent NEASC accreditation process. Elora played soccer all four years and served as team co-captain during her senior season. She played basketball for two years but switched to indoor track as a junior and excelled in the Conference at the 400m dash. In outdoor track, Elora has made her mark at the state championships as well as the New England Regional level and has been named to the All State Championship First and Second teams while in high school. Elora will attend the University of Vermont, where she intends to continue her track and field career at the collegiate level.

CHRISTOPHER BAILEY
Christopher, the son of Timothy and Lauren Bailey, is ranked fourth in his class. Chris is a member of the school’s NHS chapter and was a charter member of the Traip Academy VEX Robotics team, traveling to California in 2014 to compete at the national level and serving as the team’s captain in 2015. Chris was a dedicated member of the school’s basketball team for three years. As a senior, he pursued the dramatic arts program and played principal roles the fall musical and the school’s one-act competition play. Chris enjoys composing and performing music and produced an original album this year as part of his Senior Capstone Project. In the fall, Chris will study robotics engineering at Worcester Polytechnical Institute.

ISABELLA MUTCH
Isabella, the daughter of Steven Mutch and Donna Rigor da Eva, is ranked fifth in the class. Isabella played varsity soccer all four years and co-captained the team during the 2014 season. She was active in both indoor and outdoor track during all four years of high school. As a junior, Isabella was among the cast of the school’s annual fall musical, “Pippin.” She has been a member of leadership cabinet every year in high school, serving as the senior class treasurer this year. Isabella received the Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award for Traip Academy. Especially noteworthy is Isabella’s volunteerism. For four years, she taught an art class in Lowell to economically disadvantaged students. Isabella loves to travel and is especially interested in cultures, people and languages. She studied the violin for 13 years. In the fall, Isabella will attend the University of New Hampshire to study Spanish and secondary education.

JOSHUA SCHNEIER
Joshua, ranked sixth in his class, is the son of Jeff and Tess Schneier. Josh played soccer and basketball all four years and was named All-Conference first team in soccer in 2013 and 2014 and the All-Conference first team in baseball as a junior. He captained the soccer and baseball teams as a senior. In the community, Josh has been active as a Kittery Recreation Department youth basketball coach and camp counselor. He enjoys surfing and snowboarding. Joshua will attend the University of Maine in the fall.

EMILIA BYRNE
Emilia, daughter of Mike and Lillian Byrne, is ranked seventh in her class. Emilia’s most notable contribution has been in the performing arts. She had the lead role in Traip’s annual musical production as a junior and senior in “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” In the seacoast area, she was in the 2014 Prescott Park production of “Shrek the Musical” and Patrick Dorow Productions’ “Fame last winter.” Emilia was chosen to be Traip Academy’s ambassador to Maine Youth Leadership as a sophomore and was invited back by MYL to be a counselor as a junior and senior. She is a four-year member of the school’s competitive cheering team and received the 2015 Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award. A member of the National Honor Society, Emmi has been a four-year member of the school’s band and chorus. She has been a member of her class leadership cabinet all four years of high school and is the Class President this year. She was also recognized as a Rotary Student of the Month by the school’s visual and performing arts department. Emilia will study biological engineering at the University of Maine in the fall.

PETER ROBINSON
Peter, the son of Alan and Melissa Robinson, is ranked eighth. While at Traip Academy, Peter was a standout musician as first chair trombone for the school’s concert and marching band. In his second year as a member of the National Honor Society, Peter was elected chapter president. He has always been ready to lend a helping hand and is a thoughtful and committed volunteer who has accrued nearly 300 hours as a volunteer at the Seacoast Science Center. He has also volunteered at Portsmouth’s annual Children’s Day, for the Kittery Rotary Club, and with Canine Companions for Independence. Peter continues to faithfully participate in church activities and has a special interest in art. He also enjoys fishing, kayaking, and kneeboarding. This fall, Peter will attend the University of Maine to study biological engineering.

HANNAH NIGHTINGALE
Hannah, ranked ninth, is the daughter of James and Amy Nightingale. As a student at Traip Academy, Hannah was an active and dedicated member of the band as a bass clarinet player for four years. She is also an accomplished indoor and outdoor track athlete with impressive showings at the local, conference and state levels. In the community, Hannah has been a junior fire fighter with the Kittery Fire Department. She enjoys photography, snowboarding and surfing. She plans to study studio art at the University of Maine in the fall.

BRYCE CONDON
Bryce, the son of Peter Metsch and Lizz Metsch, is ranked tenth. Bryce made significant marks in both the athletics and performing arts arenas during his years at Traip Academy. He has been in three of the school’s annual fall musical productions and played the title role of Pippin during his sophomore year. He was also in the one-act competition play during his junior and senior years, and earned All-Cast honors in both productions at the Regional Drama Festival. Bryce was a dedicated member of the school’s varsity football and baseball teams as well. He earned an All-Academic Award in football and received the Justin Robinson Award. Bryce is also an accomplished vocalist and was selected by audition to the District One Chorus all four years and the All State Chorus during his junior and senior years. He will study engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in the fall.

Traip Academy’s Class of 2015 and their future plans:

Braden Armstrong, University of New England; Alexander Bailey, University of Maine; Christopher Bailey, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Leah Baker, University of Maine at Machias; Flynn Battcock-Emerson, York County Community College; Tyler Blasi, Southern Maine Community College; Jacob Brown, Full-time employment; Tyler Buffington, Full-time employment; Emilia Byrne, University of Maine; Kennedy Canfield, Citrus College; Haley Carson, Roanoke College; Laura Clapp, University of Southern Maine; Bryce Condon, University of MA, Lowell; Michael Costello, Southern Maine Community College; Cameron DeFelice, University of New Hampshire; Cassandra Draker, Southern Maine Community College; Amity Graham, Southern Maine Community College; Tucker Gray, PNSY Apprenticeship Program; Megan Hallissey, Husson University; Clara Hannigan, Elon University; Nathan Henderson, Maine Maritime Academy; Kayla Kilty, University of North Texas; Colin Macomber, Outreach 360; Elijah Martonosi, Lincoln Technical Institute of Automotive Technology; Elora McCuddy, University of Vermont; Tyler McInnis, Lyndon State; Jaden Miller, York County Community College; Tristan Moreau, volunteering; Aidan Morrill, University of Maine; Isabella Mutch, University of New Hampshire; Hannah Nightingale, University of Maine; Brady O’Brien, Husson University; Haley Pereira, St. Michael’s College; Arianna Pesarik, Wheaton College; James Potter, Southern Maine Community College; Morgan Reed, St. Joseph’s College of Maine; Tatiana Reyes, University of South Carolina; Austin Ridlon, full time employment; Peter Robinson, University of Maine; Kayla Sanborn, York County Community College; Michael Sault, Full-time employment; Joshua Schneier, University of Maine; Joseph Spinney, Full-time employment; Daniel Tokarz, Southern Maine Community College; Michael Turner, Full-time employment; Cla’saun Ware, Undecided; Madison White, St. Joseph’s College of Maine; Beatrix Wiggin, University of New England; Camille Williams, California Polytechnic State University; William Yuva, Full-time employment; and Leonardo Zoia, returning to Italy.

Brunswick High School held its graduation at 7 p.m. June 12 at Bowdoin College’s Watson Arena. Below are the students who earned the top 10 spots in the Class of 2015.

RUTH VAN KAMPEN, valedictorian, is the daughter of Corrie and Doug van Kampen, of Brunswick.
Ruth challenged herself with a rigorous course load that landed her into the National Honor Society. She has a passion for social justice and has volunteered many hours at the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. Her sense of commitment to empowering other‘s earned her the St Michael’s Book Award for Social Conscience and Service. Ruth was also a familiar face at Curtis Library volunteering many hours. A competent musician Ruth has been involved all four years in Wind Ensemble, Pep and Honors Band. Cross country, indoor and outdoor track have played major roles in shaping Ruth as both a person and athlete. She ran every season, accruing numerous awards and recognitions as a leader. She credits running with instilling in her the notion that “teamwork and empowerment of each other are very important not only in sports but also in life”. Ruth was honored with the Grace & George Crimmins Award and the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Award. In addition to running, other interests Ruth has include knitting. Chosen as the 2015 Mitchell Scholar, Ruth will attend Bates College and intends to pursue a degree in history.

JOHN MURPHY, salutation, is the son of John and Sheila Murphy.
He received the George Eastman Book Award and the St. Michael’s Book Award. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Additionally, Jack has been a viable member of Band, Honors Chamber Choir and successfully auditioned for the District III Honors Festival. He has been a viable member of cross country, and indoor and outdoor track teams. In his spare time, he enjoys volunteering at the MCHPP summer lunch program, and at the Gathering Place in Brunswick. This summer Jack plans on attending a mission trip with his church to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Next year, he plans on taking a GAP year to do service work in Latin America. Then, he plans to attend a college and pursue a degree in chemistry.

SARAH JUDD, is the daughter of Robert and Cristle Judd.
Sarah was inducted into the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She was named to the All State Choir for three years, is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and a Presidential Scholars Nominee. She also received the Modern Classical Languages Award and the Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award. She was a member of the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band and the Bowdoin College Orchestra. She played lacrosse and ran indoor track and was a member of the ski club. Sarah was elected as senior class treasurer, co-president of the National Honor Society, and served as captain of the lacrosse and indoor track teams. Last summer, Sarah served as a research fellow for ten weeks at Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, where she worked with other research fellows and with the scientists from Jackson Labs on DNA damage and repair. She has been involved with activities at her church and has been a summer counselor and swim instructor at the Bowdoin College Day camp. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, downhill and cross-country skiing as well as water skiing and hiking.
Sarah plans to attend Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she will study bio-chemistry.

LAUREL MARGERUM, is the daughter of Liza Nelson and Mark Margerum, of Brunswick and ranks 4th in the senior class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society as well as the Latin Honors Society. Laurel has been active in the Outing Club, the Ski Club and swim team. Her volunteer work includes being the student liaison to Cathance River Education Alliance Board of Directors and volunteer counselor at CREA vacation camps. In her spare time, Laurel enjoys running, painting, rowing, biking, hiking, skiing and exploring the outdoors. Additionally, she teaches at horse riding camps and hopes to continue riding dressage in the future.
Laurel plans on attending Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, where she will major in Architectural Studies.

ALEXANDRA RING, is the daughter of Christina and Geno Ring, of Brunswick.
Alexandra (Allie) can be best described as a “scholar” and leader, taking this school’s most demanding classes and earning nomination to last year’s Smith Book Award. She was a four year member of Interact Club earning her a Rotary Service Interact Award. Her volunteer efforts include Relay For Life, Bowl For Kid’s Sake, Habitat For Humanity, Camp Sunshine and the Independence Association. She was active in her church group, taking mission trips to New York and Philadelphia. Extracurricular activities include golf and swim team; ski club and a four year member in Wind Ensemble and pep bands. She is an inductee in the Tri-M Music, National and Spanish Honor Society’s. An accomplished clarinetist, Allie earned 1st chair at District 3 Honors Festival. She also was past recipient of the English Department and Davis Awards. By stepping out of her comfort zone and helping others through volunteerism, Allie hopes this is the spring board for a potential career in the Health Occupations/Medical field. She was attracted to Bowdoin College which has a strong “Common Good” commitment to community that matches her desire to pursue a “career in caring for others while challenging herself intellectually”.

ANDREW KEW, is the son of David and Diane Kew.
He was inducted into the National Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta National High School Math Honors Society, and was this year’s recipient of the Jack Depres Award. Andrew was a member of the soccer, indoor track and cross country teams as well as the math team and the robotics club. He volunteered at the Curtis Memorial Library’s annual book sale and at his church. He enjoys solving puzzles, playing chess and biking and loves to read especially science fiction and Popular Science magazine.
Andrew plans to attend Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, where he will study bio-medical engineering.

ANNA FERDINAND, is the daughter of William and Catherine Ferdinand.
Anna was inducted into the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She has been the Brunswick High School recipient of the Maine Principal’s Award, the Williams College Book Award and the Susan B. Anthony Humanities Award as well as the Rotary Service Interact Award. Anna has been involved in a number of activities both in and outside of school. She has been a member of the soccer, golf, lacrosse and swim teams; has been a member of the ski club and yearbook and served as a yearbook editor this year and was elected as Senior Class Vice President. Anna was involved with the Theater Project, Relay for Life, Bowl for Kid’s Sake, Stuff the Bus, Trek Across Maine and the Camp Sunshine Pumpkin Festival. In addition, Anna has been a member of her church’s Youth Leadership Council and a member of the church choir. The summer before her junior year Anna participated in a Spanish immersion program, living and studying in Madrid and Andalusia, Spain. She has worked at the YMCA Camp of Maine and currently works part-time at Wild Oats Bakery. In her spare time she likes to downhill and cross country ski, read, sail and play her clarinet.
Anna plans to attend Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, where she will study international business.

ANDREW BOBKER, is the son of Pamela and Daniel Bobker, of Brunswick.
Andrew has taken this school’s most demanding courses earning him last year’s Dartmouth Book Award and recognition as a semi-finalist in the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. All four years, Andrew has been a devoted member of the jazz band and Wind Ensemble and has earned induction into the Tri-M Honors Society. He was a participant in a summer music workshop at Oberlin College, and got the opportunity to be a local DJ on WBOR’s Bowdoin College radio station. His knowledge of not only current music is impressive but his musical history IQ is phenomenal with a taste that goes beyond his years. Andrew’s annual volunteer experiences includes the Curtis Library Book Sale. Other extracurricular activities include cross country (“we are really competing against ourselves, aren’t we?) and attaining his black belt in karate.
Andrew’s post-secondary plans include attending DePauw University with the intention of pursuing a double major in music and history.

CHLOE TEBOE, is the daughter of Brenda Mower-Teboe and Dana Teboe, of Brunswick.
Chloe is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. She has been a member of the Honors Chamber Choir and successfully auditioned for District III, All-State Choir, All-State Jazz Choir, All-National Choir and All-Eastern Choir. Chloe combined her love for dance and music by being a member of BHS Players for four years, playing the lead role in this year’s musical production of “Legally Blonde.” Other interests include being a viable member of the Interact Club, as well as tennis and cheer leading. Outside of school, Chloe has been active in Girl Scouts and proudly earned her Silver Award as a freshman. During her spare time, she enjoys volunteering at the Maine State Music Theater and working at Thornton Oaks Senior Center and the Brunswick Rec Center’s summer camps. Additionally, she enjoys songwriting and recently completed her first singer-songwriter album.
She plans to major in broadcast journalism at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was awarded a Dean’s Merit Scholarship for outstanding academic achievement.

BROOKE ESCOE, is the daughter of Dr. Byron and Darlene Escoe.
Brooke was inducted into the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She was a member of the Wind Ensemble and served as section leader, was named to the District III Honors Band all through high school. She was a member of the indoor and outdoor track teams, and was captain of the cross country team. Brooke has also earned the Girl Scouts’ Silver Award. She volunteered at her church’s vacation bible school and their nursery room. She also studied classical piano for 13 years and also the flute. Brooke worked part-time for two years at the North Face Outlet in Freeport. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, skiing and traveling.
Brooke plans to attend Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, where she will be a pre-med major.

Brunswick High School’s Class of 2015

Robert Raymond Alexander, Devin James Allard, Sydney Lee Anderson, Jesse T. Arford, Andrew Logan Arnold, Joanna Marie Arsenault, Fynn Ajani Arthur, Emaleigh Jayne Aschbrenner, Jessica Dean Asper, Adele J. Bailey, Rebecca Anne Bailey, Alexander Paul Bandouveres, Christopher T. Barter, Joshua B. Bashant, Shawn R. Bayrd, Jacob N. Beaulieu, Scott Archer Bernier, Cameron C. Berry, Andrew David Bobker, Angelica Francine Joy Boyle, Lindsey Morgan Bradstreet, Ginger S. Brimstein, Matthew David Brooks, Patrick Redmond Brown, Matthew John Burrows II, Madison Cecilia Burt, Cade P. Bussell, Erin Butts, Rosalita C. Capoldo, Julia Grace Champagne, Natalie M. Champagne, Courtney Elise Clark, Jordan Beth Coffin, Jennifer Marie Comeau, Keegan S. Compeau, Charlotte Elizabeth Cooney, Jacob Evan Cost, Pearson Gustave Cost, Hannah Marie Cox, Ryan Edward Croatti, Timothy Stephen Custer, Cody E. Cyr, Alicia C. Davis, John Mackenzie Igor DeForest, Vincent Denardo II, Hayley M. DeNardo-Davis, Grace Thu Phuong Doehring, Breana M. Doherty, Caleb J. H. Donaldson, Zoe J. Donovan, Sarah J. Dorval, Wenxin Du, Shannah Kylie Duffy, Erin Rochelle Duguay, Olivia Aldea Kathryn Dumont, Hunter Dvorak, Stephen Eno, Brooke Domenick Escoe, Simon Vincent Estabrook, Cole Wyler Faulkner, Michela Fedeli, Anna Louise Ferdinand, Joshua C. Fernandes, Michael J. Finch, Benjamin Edward Flanagan, Donald Philip Fortin, Ariana M. Franklin, Shelby Lynn Fraser, Drew Jordan Gallant, Jade C. Garrett, Owen Andrew Ginty, Ethan M. Glass, Cameron J. Glover, Tristan Graves, Cassandra M. Gray, Julia Lillian Grocholl, Hannah Marie Guernelli, Molly Jane Guerrette, Rachel Ann Guindon, Adrian Hagenbuch, Molly Anna Hamm, Riley Andrew Happs, Trevor Hatke, Samuel T. Hensley, Annastacia Marie Herschel, Devin Ryan Hewson, Keighley Higgins, Tyler Thomas Hillis, Ashley Howe, Jacob Thomas Hunter, Marion N. R. Jochmans, Jordan M. Johnson, Sarah Grace Judd, Andrew John Kapocius, Emma Katz, Bryan Kemberling, Andrew P. Kew, Phoebe Viola Keyes, Anna Louise Kinee, Richard H. Klatt, Mitchell Kleege, Devon Klockow, Hayden Knight, Andrew Leigh Knowles, Eric John Kousky, Kristine Marie Lajoie, Elena Corrinne Latti, Bradford Lenox Leaman, Christopher R. Leeman, Brianna Raine Leonard, Garrett Raynald LeRoy, Robert Nicholas Lewis, Cody K. Libby, Laurentz Fernandes Locke, Charlie James Lowell, Joseph T. Lurf, NancyMae Madarasz, Kyle Christopher Maillet, Steven Manson, Alexander James Marc-Aurele, Laurel Grace Margerum, Henry Wight Martinson, Fiona M. Mason, Moses E. Mathis, Jacey Ryan Mathy, Joshua L. Mays, Zoe A. McCrary, Jacob Austin McGowan, Emma Lee McKearney, Isabelle Louise Rancourt McKenna, Anna Grace McMillan, Alec Sebastian McPherson, Zachary B. Meggison, Alessio R. Mencarelli, Samantha Kayleigh Merrill, Taylor Ann Messerman, Rachel Suzanne Monegue, Samantha Jean Moore, Jacob T. Morin, Ross S. Munn, John Michael Murphy, Avery Murphy-Anderson, Evan Alexander Murray, Olivia Madison Muschell, Nicholas O’Brien Naculich, Lancelot S. M. Naipier-Kane, Erin Sachiko Nakamura, Rocco Raffaele Nappi, Marian Renee Newby, Samuel E. Nichols, Gloria Nixon, Eva Nora-Couot, Nicholas Robert Osborne, Jared Curtis Parent, John Parker VI, Sarah Ashlyn Payne, Taran Payne, Jr., Piper Jarrett Quattropani, Anne Michelle Queally, Michaela Reil, Soliloquy Rhodes, Mila Lynn Rice, Lakotah Sky Richardson, Julia Abbott Rider, Tristin L. Ridlon, Alexandra Glidden Ring, Mollie Shea Roane, Shelby L. Roberts, Faith Anne Robshaw, Drey J. Rochette, Ezra Anthony Rogers, Holly Rutherford, Juliet Stephanie Saldaña Baines, Amy Sargent, Emily D. Sargent, Erin Megan Savoy, Kassidy Lynn Scarponi, Ian Phillip Schlosser, Alexis Schneiderat, Miricle Scott-Dennis, Alanna Melian Sehestedt, Andrew James Settle, Alan R. Smat, Courtney Lynne Smith, Dylan Smith, Mitchell Paul Smith, Oliver E. Smith, Sarah Tiffani Smith, Savannah Lynne Smith, Skylar M. Somerville, Justina N. Spaulding, Nathan Joseph Sprague, Matthew E. St. Pierre, Christopher Noel Staples, Jr., Molly Renee Steinman, McKinley Hale Stinson, Madeline H. Stoll, Tyler John Sullivan, Christopher David Tanner, Chloe Teboe, Mikaelyn Kimberley Teel, Alexander Lawrence Temple, Nicholas J. Thibeault, Dylan Daniel Thiboutot, Kyla Michelle Tibbetts, Trent Levi Trombley, Troy A. Trembley, Cyndle Anna Turcotte, Noora Maria Aleksiina Utrianen, Darren Robert Valle, Ruth Ann van Kampen, Zachary John Van Der Werf, Kenan I. Van Vranken, Kody Allen Vaughan, Jeffrey J. Ward, Jr., Kievone E. Washington, Breanna C. Wiggins, Kyle Woodruff, Areyanna Yslava, Qian Yu and Emily Lynn Yuodsnukis.

The legal battle to block the teaching of yoga in Encinitas public schools in northern San Diego County is finished, the lawyer who led the unsuccessful fight said Thursday.

Dean Broyles, attorney for the Escondido-based National Center for Law and Policy, said that while his clients do not plan to appeal, the effort to “educate parents” about the religious intent of yoga will continue.

“(We) fully expect to be engaged in future efforts to stop the deceptive religious indoctrination of our children by the state,” Broyles said.

In April, a three-judge panel of the 4th District Court of Appeal upheld a decision by the San Diego County Superior Court that, while yoga has religious overtones, the program run by the Encinitas program is “devoid of any religious, mystical or spiritual trappings.”

Tim Baird, superintendent of the K-6 district, says the program is part of an effort to teach students the benefits of exercise and healthful eating.

“We are not teaching religion, we are not instructing anyone in religious dogma,” Baird said. “Yoga is very mainstream.”

Under a three-year grant from a foundation that promotes Ashtanga yoga, yoga exercises are taught in twice-weekly, 30-minute classes.

The parents of two students had sued, alleging that the yoga program promotes Hinduism while the district discourages any display of Christianity.

The school district hired the yoga instructors and controlled the curriculum, the appeals court said.

Parents can have their children opted out of the yoga instruction.

Broyles said one result of the lawsuit has been that “more and more parents opt their children out of the yoga classes after learning the truth.”

The program, he said, has children worshiping the Hindu sun god Surya, an accusation that district officials deny. Yoga supporters, he noted, consider yoga to be “spiritually transformative.”

Even in calling an end to the legal fight, Broyles criticized the “deceptive” explanation of Baird and other district officials and their alleged refusal to consider the concerns of parents.

A national association that advocates for university faculty formally censured the University of Southern Maine on Saturday, saying officials didn’t properly consult with faculty members on cuts last year.

The American Association of University Professors, or AAUP, has been investigating USM for months regarding USM’s decision to eliminate five academic programs and 51 faculty positions because of budget cuts. The administration has said it followed all university policies and procedures in making the cuts – but faculty members have disputed this.

The AAUP report found that the university violated academic freedom, tenure and due process expectations.

“On a symbolic level, this is significant,” incoming USM President Glenn Cummings said of the group’s decision to censure USM. “It underscores that trust and unity are really job one in rebuilding the university.”

AAUP delegates voted for censure at the group’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C., said local chapter president Lorrayne Carroll, an associate professor of English at USM.

“It’s a signal that the University of Maine System, in particular USM, has not abided by its own governance documents,” Carroll said. “I am very sad today. … Nobody wants censure.”

There is no legal impact on USM for being censured, but AAUP officials say it can affect recruitment and retention of faculty.

Cummings said he thought the cuts last year were necessary, and that the university still faces financial challenges ahead. But he has emphasized that he wants to work with faculty.

“It’s important that we take the position and concerns of faculty very seriously,” Cummings said.

Last year’s cuts were “essential, given the reality” of financial problems, he said.

The system’s $518 million budget that begins in July uses $7 million in emergency funds despite cutting 206 positions systemwide. In the current budget year, which ends June 30, the $529 million system budget required using $11.4 million in emergency funds and cutting 157 positions.

“I do think the university has the right ultimately to make decisions about whether they can carry certain programs based on finances, (but) it has to be a shared decision,” Cummings said.

“We have to make sure there are real substantive conversations about what programs are cut. Going forward, I want to have those discussions in a way that people feel they’ve been listened to and what they said mattered,” he said.

Cummings said recently that USM is already facing a $2.5 million shortfall in the $128 million budget for the year beginning July 1 because fall enrollments are down.

Carroll said she has already requested a meeting with Cummings.

“We are really looking forward to working with President Cummings on remedying the issues that have led to censure and turning it around, and getting censure lifted as soon as possible,” she said.

AAUP lobbies on behalf of professors and other academics. The organization also conducts research and lends collective bargaining support to member chapters and affiliated institutions. AAUP gets about 1,000 complaints a year from faculty, and investigates four or five universities a year.

After Saturday’s vote, there are currently 56 institutions on the association’s censure list.

USM officials are in arbitration talks with the faculty union over the cuts last year.

Noel K. Gallagher can be contacted at 791-6387 or at:

ngallagher@pressherald.com

Freeport High School held its graduation ceremony on June 14 at the school. The following students graduated summa cum laude with distinction:

CALEB ABBOTT, is the son of Jennifer Melville and Alexander Abbott.
He is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Team, Model UN and WorldQuest Team.
Activities include: varsity soccer, varsity alpine skiing, varsity tennis, freshman mentor, intern on former Congressman Michaud’s Gubernatorial campaign, Freeport High School Renovation Committee, assistant at the Little Falcons Soccer Camp and a youth soccer referee.
Awards: Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award, Maine Sports Hall of Fame Athlete-Scholar Award, captain of the soccer, tennis, and alpine teams, multiple All-Conference Awards in soccer, tennis, and alpine skiing, Maine Windstorm Challenge 3rd Place, Maine Model UN Delegate Honorable Mention Award and a member of the delegation that won the Best Delegation Award.
Future plans: He will be attending the University of California, Los Angeles.

RYDER BENNELL, is the son of Dede and David Bennell.
He is a member of Amnesty International, Gay Straight Alliance, Interact Club (community service club), The Falcon Outlet (newspaper), Model United Nations, National Honor Society and the Math Team.
Activities include: varsity soccer, alpine skiing, tennis, drama department, jazz band and concert band.
Awards: Presidents Educational Excellence Award, Dirigo Boy’s State Leadership Conference/Award, Solomon H. Plummer Citizenship Award, High School Athletics Leadership Conference, University of Rochester Young Leaders Award, The Forecaster’s Athlete of the Year, Scooper of the Month at Ben and Jerry’s, Western Maine All Conference alpine skiing, Principal’s Award, Western Maine Scholar-Athlete Award.
Future plans: Ryder will be attending Occidental College after taking a gap year.

JOSEF XAVIER BIBERSTEIN, is the son of Kathryn Biberstein.
He is a member of Model UN, National Honor Society, Math Team, Jazz Band, Freeport Community Teen Center and Advisory Board Member.
Activities include: STEM Challenges (Maine Windblade Challenge, MEST UP STEM game show, Moody’s Mega Math Challenge), partner in Limbeck Engineering LLC (robogoby.blogspot.com), Ultimate Frisbee team captain, and cast member of Freeport Drama and One Act productions.
Awards: semifinalist for the U.S. Presidential Scholarship Program, diplomacy and best delegation awards from Model UN 2013 and 2014, Poetry Out Loud, Maine 2014 and 2015 Regional Finalist, Phi Beta Kappa of Maine Outstanding Achievement Award 2014.
Future plans: Josef will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

LAUREN CARTER, is the daughter of Michelle and Mark Carter.
She is a member of the Student Council (Senior President), Interact Club (Senior President) and International Interact, Math Team, Model UN and Freshman Mentor Program.
Activities include: National Honor Society, varsity tennis, club tennis and Starbucks barista.
Awards: Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit and Bates Book Award.
Future plans: Lauren will be attending Clarkson University.

LAUREN MICHELLE CORMIER, is the daughter of Christine and Scott Cormier.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and freshman mentor.
Activities include: Junior varsity and varsity soccer, junior varsity and varsity basketball, varsity softball, Bath Clipper Soccer Club, Portland Phoenix Soccer Club and ODP (Olympic Development Program) soccer club.
Awards: Academic Honor Roll, Pride and Character Award 2013-2014, President’s Award for Educational Excellence, All-Academic Team Award 2014, Western Maine All-Conference Soccer Award 2014, Pride and Character Basketball Award 2014-2015.
Future plans: Lauren will be attending the University of Maine.

JOSEPH MINIERI, is the son of Candace and Joseph Minieri.
He is a member of the math team, tech team and freshman mentor.
Activities include: cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, robotics tutoring, volunteer firefighting and farm work, played banjo for a bluegrass band, Grace Reformed Baptist Church member and webmaster.
Awards: Excellence in AP Language and Composition Award, Yale Book Award, Highest Honor on the National Greek Exam, Computing Medal Award, Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.
Future plans: Joseph will be attending Georgia Institute of Technology.

DEVIN ROBINSON, is the daughter of Adrienne and Kenny Robinson.
She is a member of Student Council (treasurer), National Honor Society (secretary), Model United Nations, Falcon Outlet and Freshman Mentors.
Activities include: concert band, volunteer at Mid Coast Hospital.
Awards: President’s Award for Academic Excellence, University of Rochester Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award, Solomon H. Plummer citizenship Award, Harvard University Book Award, Excellence in Math Award.
Future plans: Devin will be attending the University of Rochester.

MARGO LYNN RUBY, is the daughter of Lori and Scott Ruby.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and Mentor Program.
Activities include: Soccer, track, cross country (freshman and sophomore year) and teaching dance/competing as a dancer for 13 years.
Awards: St. Lawrence Book award and Falcon Pride Award.
Future plans: Margo will be attending the University of Tampa, pre-medicine/biology.

MEREDITH SAUNDERS, is the daughter of Karen Lambert and David Saunders.
She is a member of Amnesty International (President), Falcon Outlet, FHS School Newspaper (Editor), Reducing Sexism and Violence Prevention Club (leader), Art Club, Model United Nations, National Honor Society and Earth Club.
Activities include: Leadership trip to Dakar, Senegal, Semester abroad in Versailles, France, volunteering at the Freeport Historical Society, volunteering at Morse Street School, Maine youth Leadership Conference, Champlain College Young Writers’ Conference, Longfellow Writers’ Workshop at UMaine Farmington, photography, chorus and theater productions.
Awards: Presidential Award for Academic Excellence, Bowdoin College Book Award, FHS Global Studies Award, FHS English Award, FHS American Studies Award, FHS French Award, Bangor Daily Writing Contest Winner.
Future plans: Meredith will be attending Wellesley College.

ASHLEY C. TAYLOR, is the daughter of Christopher and Rhonda Taylor.
She is a member/president of SkillsUSA, a student run leadership organization through Region Ten Technical High School.
Activities include: Alpine ski team and equine dressage riding.
Awards: Student of the Quarter at Region Ten Technical High School (x2), Statesman Award through SkillsUSA, Honor Roll, NSHSS, SkillsUSA Maine State Gold Medalist 2013/14.
Future plans: Accepted into Loop Abroad’s Veterinary Service program in Thailand this summer where “I will be working with dogs and elephants and assisting in surgeries with our veterinarian that we bring with us.” Ashley will then attend the University of New Hampshire.

Freeport’s graduating class of 2015

Caleb Abbott, MacKenzie Ackley, Isabel Ainsworth, Dylan Alexander, Shawn Anthony, Hannah Avant, Jill Baker, Cameron Balzer, Shawna Benjamin, Ryder Bennell, Krista Bertrand, Josef Biberstein, Emilee Billings, Rebecca Bonney, Julia Bowen, Seth Breton, Joshua Bushey, Noah Butler, Alyssa Caouette, Phillip Cardwell, D’Arcy Carter, Lauren Carter, Kirsten Copp, Lauren Cormier, John Curit, Wynne Cushing, Nathaniel Cyr, Maggie Davis, Julia Dearden, Austin Dodge, Ramsey Dodge, Katherine Doherty Aidan Dorvee, Peter Doughty, Blake Enrico, Alexis Erlandson, Jacob Farmer, Pamela Ferreras, Madison Fleenor, Danielle Foster, Matthew Francis, Alana Franklin, Alayna Frey, Tyler Frey, Virginia Fullagar, Taylor Ginn Callum Gould, Abigail Gray, Emily Harvey, Wyatt Holt, Bailie Humphrey, Emily Johnson, Kaitlin Johnson, Seth Jones, Tyler Julian, Molly Kennedy Samantha Kenney, Corey Kilton, Elizabeth Kolle, Peter LaMagna, Brandon Larkins, Thomas Lawrence, Arick Leavitt, Forest Leavitt, Emily LeDoux, Erik Ly, Carlisle Lynch, Lydia Marquis, Elizabeth Martin, Parker Masison, Jordan Mason, Zach Merrill, Thomas Miller, Joseph Minieri, Dehlia Mitchell-Gray, Zachary Moore, Hannah Morrissey, Alyssa Nielsen, Robert Niles, Jasmine Olins, Jordan Ouellette, James Pace, Monica Pallin, Katherine Parsons, Jacobson Perry, Seth Pierce, Brendan Qualls, Katherine Randall, Eamon Reis, Nichole Reny, Sarah Rice, Steven Richards, Alyssa Richardson, Devin Robinson, Demetrius Rodriguez, Rachel Rogers, Margo Ruby, Meredith Saunders, Brian Sayward, Taylor Schenker, Gavin Simmons, Brittany Small, Abigail Smith, Julia Smith, Lilly Smith, Korey St. Amand, Nathan Stowell, Asher Strickland, Hailey Sylvain, Ashley Taylor, Matthew Tayman, Kayla Thatcher, Eric Therrien, Evan Tims, Hunter Tompson, Sarah Watts, Chloe Whittaker, Amber Wiers, Hannah Williams, Nicholas Wilson, Samuel Wogan, Tristin Young and Charles Zachau.

Exchange students receiving certificates include:
Carole Haener, Siti Batrisyia Halim, Marta Krzyzaniak, Frederik Lindhard, Nicolas Lizasoain, Hannah Schmahel and Chanipa Suvannasaroje.

Lake Region High School held its graduation on June 14 at the high school gym. The following students rose to the top 10 percent in the class of 2015.

SULLIVAN TIDD, Valedictorian, of Casco, is a son of Trevor and Eileen and brother of Zachary Tidd.
Activities: varsity golf
School involvement: National Honor Society and math team
Community involvement: Laker Youth Community Action and community service for the 4-H Club
Hobbies: tournament bass fishing
College: University of Maine, pursuing a degree in civil engineering.
Awards: honor roll, National Honor Society, Dirigo Boys State Delegate and Lions Club Student of the Month in 2014
Scholarships: UMaine Engineering and UMaine Civil Engineering.

MICHELLE BENDER, is an exchange student, who lives in Casco with her host parents Jon and Suzanne Carlson and their children Andrew, Julia and Sarah. She is a daughter of Viktana Dieter Bender and sister of Henry Bender.
Activities: volleyball, tennis and world quest
School involvement: student council
Hobbies: hanging out with friends, doing sports
Future Plans: Going back to Germany, graduating from high school and then college

HAROLD BRACY, Salutatorian, of Sebago, is a son of Harold Bracy Sr. and Violet Guertin and a brother of Alan Bracy.
Activities: reading, writing and math
School involvement: drama
Community involvement: Healthy Youth- Healthy Lake Region, volunteering for campaigns such as Angus King for Senator 2012
Hobbies: blogging
College: Brown University, pursuing a degree in either economics, law or public policy
Awards: 2014 Questbridge Scholar, AP Scholar with Honors
Scholarships: Very sizable grants from Brown University

LILY BARRETT, honor essayist, of Sebago, is a daughter of Leslie and Brent Barrett and a sister of Zoe Barrett.
Activities: theatre, tennis, soccer and volleyball
School involvement: Student Council, National Honor Society
Community involvement: peer tutoring, IRIS Network, Partners for World Health, Maine Youth Leadership and Grab the Torch.
Hobbies: playing the piano and reading
College: George Washington University, pursuing a degre in political science
Awards: University and Alumni Award
Scholarships: Presidential Academic Scholarship

SARAH CARLSON, of Casco, is a daughter of Jonathan and Suzanne Carlson and sister of Andrew and Julia Carlson.
Activities: tennis, volleyball and drama
School involvement: AFS President, National Honor Society President, Varsity Club Vice President, Student Council President
Community involvement: volunteered at Town Hall, Western Maine Track & Field; and volunteer and blood donor for the American Red Cross.
Hobbies: singing, acting, tennis, volleyball and volunteer with Safe Passage in Guatemala
College: University of Maine at Farmington, pursuing a teaching degree
Awards: 21st Century Leadership Award, Student of the Month and Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award.
Scholarships: 21st Century Leadership Award Scholarship

NICOLE FOX, of Naples, is a daughter of Leonard and Linda Fox and a sister of Colby Fox.
Activities: work at Black Horse Tavern
School involvement: volleyball, lacrosse, National Honor Society, AFS Club and varsity club
Community involvement: The Summit Project, Community Center volunteer at Bridgton and Casco
Hobbies: photography, art and running
College: University of Florida, pursuing a degree in psychology
Awards: Williams College Book Award, Excellence in English, Dirigo Girl’s State Delegate, Player of the Week, Youth Art Month, Lion’s Club Student of the Month and Western Maine Class B Citizenship Award
Scholarships: Southern Scholarship Foundation

SARAH HANCOCK, of Casco, is a daughter of Matt and Tracy Hancock and sister of Sierra and Shauna Hancock.
Activities: basketball and track
School involvement: class president, National Honor Society, student council and varsity club president
Hobbies: travel and snowboarding
College: Colby College

CAROLYN LUCY, of Sebago, is a daughter of John and Ellen Lucy and sister of Abigail, Brian and Kevin.
Activities: dance, hiking, reading and being outside
School involvement: theater, show choir, and treasurer of National Honor Society
Community involvement: volunteer at elementary schools, town events and babysitting
College: University of New England in Biddeford, pursuing a degree in environmental science
Awards: Lion’s Club Student of the Month
Scholarships: National Science Foundation and UNE Scholarship

ELIZABETH WILDEY, of Naples, is a daughter of Margaret and Jeffrey Wildey and sister of Madison Wildey and Nikola Gomolava.
Activities: tennis, volleyball and drama
School involvement: National Honor Society, tennis, AFS Club, drama, student council and volleyball
Community involvement: volunteering for MS Harborfest and Facillitating  METS Leadership program at Lake Region
Hobbies: tennis, reading and music
College: Lesley University
Awards: honor roll, Excellence in Social Studies and Excellence in French
Scholarships: Lesley Scholarship

NICHOLAS BALL, of Naples, is a son of Tracey Tibbetts and brother of Gabby and Whitney.
Activities: varsity soccer, varsity basketball and varsity baseball
School involvement: volunteer at Casco Day, youth basketball
Hobbies: sports, reading, friends
College: University of Maine
Awards: Black Bear Scholarship, Chadbourne Award

ALEXIS WENTWORTH, of Bridgton, is a daughter of Jeremy and Jillene Wentworth and sister of Kasey and Arielle Wentworth. She is the mother of Aiden Wentworth.
School involvement: AFS, varsity soccer
Community involvement: works at the Umbrella Factory
Hobbies: hiking
College: Southern Maine Community College, pursuing a degree in engineering

MARGARET ELLEN SCARLETT, of Bridgton, is a daughter of Mary MacDonald and sister of Damon, Abby and Nick.
School involvement: drama club, National Honor Society, field hockey and tennis
Hobbies: knitting, reading and amateur film and book collector
College: Penn State University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ELISE GIANATTASIO, of Naples, is a daughter of Suzanne and Gerod Gianattasio and sister of Andrew.
Activities: jazz band and slam poetry club
School involvement: National Honor Society, band and drama
Community involvement: volunteer at Naples Public Library
Hobbies: writing, playing music and being creative
College: Emerson College
Awards: Scholastic Silver Key Winner (Writing) and finalist for Maine Young Writer of the Year

NICOLE NOBLE, of Bridgton, is a daughter of Sheila Weeman and Scott Noble and a sister of Lenny Lavoie and Erica Noble.
Activities: employed at Howell Labs, Inc. for 4 years
Community involvement: Wreaths Across America, Civil Air Patrol
Hobbies: video games, drawing, reading
College: Maine College of Art, Portland

MADISON WILDEY, of Naples, is a daughter of Margaret and Jeffrey Wildey and sister of Elizabeth Wildey and Nikola Gomolava.
Activities: tennis, volleyball and drama
School involvement: student council, National Honor Society and the AFS Club
Community involvement: volunteered for METS Leadership Program and served food for the MS Harborfest
Hobbies: tennis and cooking
College: Lesley University, pursuing a degree in psychology
Awards: honor roll
Scholarships: Dean’s Scholarship

Lake Region High School’s 2015 graduates

Nicholas Austin Aceto, Austin John Adams, David Wayne Allen, Brian Trevor Armentino, Nicholas Christopher Ball, Hunter Paige Banks, Breyanna Lyn Barboza, Lily Victoria Barrett, Talya Marie Bartlett, Louis Robert Beall, Kaitlin Julia Bell, Dakoda Harley Bellavance, Michelle Bender, Angele Autumn Bergeron, Lisa Emmy Mikaela Bergsten Ahneloev, Logan Michael Bernard, Hunter Bailey Bodenheim, Samantha Anna Bolling, Daniel Paul Bonasoro, Brandon Nicholas Boody, Harold Charles Bracy, Jeffrey Paul Bragdon, Natasha Raye Brassley, Reed Miller Bridge- Koenigsberg, Cody Joseph-Michael Bryant, Tyler James Burnell, Emily Marie Burnham, Adam Michael Butler, Sarah Elizabeth Carlson, Angelica Mae Champoli, Anthony Joseph Champoli, Ashley Anna Clark, Adam Allen Cook, Jonathan Michael Cormier, Bailey A.M. Crawford, Justina P. Currier, Eleanor Faye Cusack, Kyle Robert DeSouza, Brittany Leanne Dorsey, Sarah Dorothy Gail Dvorak, Donovan Lee Eaton, Daniel Adam Edmunds, Isabelle Allura Edwards, Caleb Carlton Ela, Christina Marie Engstrom, Cole Anthony Eugley, Jade Taylor Fecteau, Tianah Jean Fisher, Kevin Michael Flanagin, Nicole Lee Fox, Julian Paul Gaillard, Kelsey Lynn Geer, Elise Burnham Gianattasio, Leticia Belen Gomez, Nikola Gomolova, Ethan Douglas Green, Evan Stuart Grindel, Christopher Michael Hall, Nicholas Conrad Hall, Ronald Boo Hall, Sarah Shane Hancock, Shawn Alan Hanson, Cheyanne Lynn Harden, Codi Marie Harden, Whitney Paige Harriman, Sean William Hedly, Magnus Andri Holm, Erin Holston, Eric Mitchell Hook, Tyler Philip Houle, Ryan Allan Jackson, Natasha Janice Jones, Austin Nicholas Kaeser, Evan Reed Kellough, Justin Matthew Michael Kenison, Thomas William Kugelman, Dylan Taylor Ladeau, Devin Lilith Langadas, Benjamin Adam Elliot Lauer, Julie Marie Lent, Bridgett Elaine Letarte, Mary Margaret Loan, Garreth Logan, Shaun Alexander Loreng, Carolyn Jane Gowen Lucy, Bryce Dylan Lyons, Nikolaus EJ Lyons, Monica Allyn Martin, Kyle Dillion McDaniel, Galen Davis McLaughlin, Alexander Joseph Menezes, Benjamin Paul Miller, Steven Alexander Milton, Ashley Lynn Moore, Alec Raymond Morasse, Jordan Marie Morgan, Braleigh Mae Morrill, Allison Rae Morse, Ryan M. Morton, Logan Mateo Mujica, Nicole Renee Noble, Kiana Elaine Paige, Cody L. Parker, Brittany Paige Perreault, Isaac Daniel Pierce, Quinn Aaron Piland, Kenneth James Plummer, Nathaniel Austin Porter, Grace Gaily Richardson, Kyle David Ring, Felicia Marie Rogers, Michael Alex Rust, Evan Mitchell Sanborn, Margaret Ellen Scarlett, Abigail Elizabeth Scott-Mitchell, Isabel Joyce Scribner, Aleta Marie Secord, Derek Scott Secord, Emily Mae Secord, Evan Matthew Sloan, Tyler M Smith, Aiwarin Sornsirithanakorn, Corey M. Soucy, Kobie Charles Stevens, Rachel Lauren Stofflet, Claudio Svaizer, Alizah-Helen Danae Thayer, Sullivan Thomas Tidd, Meghan Suzanne VanLoan, Ashley Lauren Veilleux, Alexis Brooke Wentworth, Elizabeth Jordan Wildey, Madison Dorothea Wildey, Daron M. Willey, Ashley Marie Witmer, Tyler Martin Wright and Kolin Jason Wyman.

Wells High School held its graduation at 1 p.m. June 14 at the school. The commencement address was delivered by Donato Tramuto, a global healthcare activist. These students rose to the top 10 in the class of 2015.

ALLISON NOELLE BEECHER, is the daughter of Edward and Kelly Beecher, of Wells. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Odyssey of the Mind, and the indoor and outdoor track teams. She was also a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship program. Allison has been involved in many drama productions at Wells High School with onstage roles and behind-the-scenes work as a set designer and technician.
Allison will attend Olivet Nazarene University this fall and major in Spanish and intercultural studies.

SARAH CATHERINE CLAWSON, is the daughter of Phil Clawson and Katie Wiebe, both of Wells. She was a member of the marching band, concert band and jazz band; participating in fall and spring drama productions; a member of the Winter Guard team; and the outdoor track and field team.
Sarah plans to attend George Mason University and major in criminal justice/psychology.

JULIANNE MARIE FITZPATRICK, is the daughter of Charles and Jennifer Fitzpatrick, of Wells. She was president of the National Honor Society and member of the Student Council. She is a recipient of a Student of the Trimester award, numerous academic book awards and second place in the 2013 Literary Achievement Awards. Julianne also attended the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine.
Julianne plans to attend the University of Maine at Orono as part of the Honors College majoring in biology.

CHLOE ELYSSA KELLUM, is the daughter of Zachary and Nicole Kellum, of Wells. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of a Breakfast of Champions award. Chloe was a member of the Student Council and the indoor and outdoor track and field teams.
She plans to attend Clark University to major in biology.

ZACHARY ROBERT PIERCE, is the son of Randy Pierce and Shannon Emerton, both of Wells. He was a member of the National Honor Society and member of the Odyssey of the Mind team, which qualified for five world competitions. His OM team was awarded the OMER award at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals in 2012. Zach was also been part of numerous fall and spring drama productions at WHS.
He plans to attend Northeastern University to major in environmental sciences.

HOLLY ROSE ROBINSON, is the daughter of Michael and Sandra Robinson, of Wells. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Council and was president of the Interact Club. She received several academic awards, a Breakfast of Champions award and a Student of the Trimester award. Holly also received the Western Maine Conference Athletic Recognition award.
This fall, she will attend the University of Rhode Island and major in engineering.

SYDNEY PEARL ROBINSON, valedictorian, is the daughter of Michael and Sandra Robinson of Wells. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the Interact Club, and the Student Council. Sydney was president of her class for two years and is committed to volunteering in the community. She is also a member of the Math Team, Book Club and chorus. Sydney has participated in soccer, lacrosse, basketball and indoor track and field throughout her high school sports career. She is the recipient of numerous academic awards, Breakfast of Champions award, Student of the Trimester award and the Phi Betta Kappa and St. Anselm’s college book awards. Sydney has received two Warrior Pride awards and the Most Improved Player award in Lacrosse.
This fall, she will attend the University of Rhode Island and major in engineering.

SAGE ALEXANDRA SIERRA, is the daughter of Richard Sierra, of Arundel; and Ingrid Hagberd, of North Berwick. She was a member of the National Honor Society and recipient of a Breakfast of Champions award, Student of the Trimester award and numerous academic awards. Sage has been a member of the soccer, indoor track and field and lacrosse teams throughout high school.
Sage plans to attend Colby College in the fall and major in biology.

MADELINE ANNE TAYLOR, is the daughter of Michael and Debra Taylor, of Wells. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council and Interact Club. Maddie was also a member of a state championship winning Odyssey of the Mind team. She has received the Dartmouth College Book Award (in her junior year), and recipient of the Breakfast of Champions award, the Student of the Trimester award and numerous academic awards. She has participated in varsity soccer, indoor track & field, varsity softball and named WMC All Star for softball. She will attend Colby College this fall and major in pre-law.

JACOB LEWIS WILSON, salutatorian, is the son of Roy Wilson and the late Jennifer Wilson, of Wells. He was a member of the National Honor Society and Concert Band. He is a recipient of the Maine Principals Association’s MPA award, a Breakfast of Champions award and numerous academic awards. Jacob was also a member of the varsity soccer team. In addition, Jacob earned the rank of Eagle Scout this past spring.
He plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute and major in aerospace engineering.

Wells High School’s Class of 2015

Elizabeth Jeanine Andrews, Teanna Katherine Bagley, McKayla Layne Batchelder, Allison Noelle Beecher, Bethany Jean Berger, Mary Jo Berger, Sarah Jane Berger, Abbey Raye Blanchard, Nathan Andrew Booth, Reilly Marie Boyle, Hannah Elspeth Bragdon, Robert Daniel Brann, Chandler Joseph Bridge, Tristan Alexandre Brown, Evan Brian Cann, Christopher Devin Carney, Robert Matthew Chaplin, Daniel Lawrence Charpentier, Alyssa Nicole Chase, Sarah Catherine Clawson, Aliah Chelsea Clay, Dylon Thomas Cody, Alorah Connolly-Pelletier, Brandon M. Cox, Courtney Rebecca Cronin, Rachael Alta Crothers, Michael Dean Curtis, Isaac Roland Desrochers, Jason Lee Doane, Mackenzie Marie Doucette, Briauna Lynn Doughty, Emilie Autumn Dow, Mikala Elizabeth Dunbar, Alison Loring Duplisea, Charles Sumner Durfee, Kayleigh Amber Erwin, Julianne Marie Fitzpatrick, Samantha Pauline Foley, Christopher Andrew Genereux, Cali Dale Genest, Matthew Joseph Gibson, Kyle Robert Goodale, Maria V. Goodale, Cole Phillip Greaves, Helana Rose Griffith, Jacob Andrew Hamburger, Marcus Edward Harding, Alexandrea Morgan Haye, Bradley Darroch Hollins, Paul Joseph Holly Jr., Jenna James Ingalls, David Andrew Jacobs, Sadie Ellen Johnson, Chloe Elyssa Kellum, Bryce Vaughn Kevorkian-Brown, Brandyn Jason King, Jamie Nicole LaPointe, Laura Jean LaRiviere, Christian Michael Levesque, Abigail Elizabeth Lord, Abigail Nicole Lord, Erskine Lothrop, Corey Carlton Ludden, Kevin Lumenello, Kristina Manners, Bryan Edgardo Marrero, Ryan Joseph Marsh, Megan Ann McDonald, Hunter McDonnell, Andrew Roderick Michaud, Adriana Laura Milliken, Jordan David Moore, Abigail Janelle Moulton, Courtney J. Nilosek, Reed William Norton, Brooke E. Nucci, Colleen Judith O’Connor, Calvin Byron Ouellette, Nathan T. Ouellette, Lucas James-Henry Perry, Cody Gerald Pierce, Hayes Andrew Pierce, Zachary Robert Pierce, Christopher Martin Poulin, Daniel Jacob Quint, Almon David Ramsdell, Tyler John Neal Robichaud, Holly Rose Robinson, Sydney Pearl Robinson, Aaron James Rogers, Jackson Tyler Rose, Zackary M. Ruel, Brittany Taylor Salmon, Kayla Turner Schneider, Aaron Anthony Sciulli, Sage Alexandra Sierra, Jeffrey Michael Skeats, Audrey Janelle Snow-Brine, Jeffrey R. Sparkowich, Madeline Jane Stearns, Madeline Anne Taylor, Nikolai Steven Tomaszewski, Stephanie Marie Towne, Carissa Leigh Trafton, Sarah Lynn Trent, Gavin Turnbull, Peter Anthony Valentino, Naomi Ruth West-Fortin, Erin Elizabeth Weston, Chase Martin Whitney, Jacob Lewis Wilson, Owen Alexander Wolterbeek, Kenneth Benjamin Wright III, Micaela H. Wright and Timothy Matthew Wright Jr.

Kennebunk High School held its graduation ceremony on June 14 at the school. The following students rose to the top 10 percent in the class of 2015.

SAMANTHA AURIEMMA, of Kennebunkport, is the daughter of Dean Auriemma of Kennebunkport; and Cristy McInerney of Chicago. She is a member of National Honor Society and varsity field hockey. Moving from Chicago in 2013, Sami quickly embraced her new community, becoming a member of Kennebunkport Emergency Medical Services/Kennebunkport Fire Department. An assistant CPR instructor, Sami is pursuing her National EMT license. Sami plans to attend the University of New England, where she will major in applied exercise science/medical biology.

JOSEPH BEAUDOIN, of Kennebunk, is the son of Dr. Francis Beaudoin and Dr. Angela Scarfarotti. Joe’s activities include wind ensemble, jazz band, playing music for and acting in spring musicals, the debate team, National Honor Society, the Improv Club, varsity golf and varsity tennis. A flagship scholarship recipient, Joe will enter the University of Maine honors college as a pre-med biology major. Joe thanks his many excellent teachers and wishes faculty and fellow students much future happiness.

JONAH DESROCHERS, of Kennebunk is the son of Judy and Pierre Desrochers. He has been a four- year member of both the golf and tennis teams. He participated in the Youth in Government Program for three years, was awarded the Cornell Book Award, and is a member of National Honor Society. He also volunteered with children at Caring Unlimited throughout high school. By far his proudest accomplishment has been earning his private pilot’s license at age 17. He plans to pursue a degree in aviation in the Honors Program at The Ohio State University, where he was awarded both the National Buckeye Scholarship and the Trustee Scholarship.

ANDREA DEST, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Paul Dest and Deborah Danforth. She has been an active member of the Captains’ Club while serving as co-editor of the 2015 KHS Yearbook. She was a three-year member of the soccer team. She also participated in the Interact Club, the International Club and the Gender Equality Club. Andrea will attend the University of Vermont and major in dietetics, nutrition and food science. Her focus will be on research.

ABIGAIL DOYLE, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Greg and Julie Doyle. She is an AP Scholar, STEM Certificate Scholar and RIT Medal Award recipient. A three-year member of the varsity basketball team, she served as captain her senior year and has been named to the all-academic team each year. A volunteer at C.K. Burns School and Graves Public Library, Abigail will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she will major in biomedical engineering with a minor in art.

JAY HUSKINS, of Kennebunkport, is the son of Eugenia Carter and Ted Huskins. He has been a part of nine theatrical performances between his two high schools, including the recent showing of 12 Angry Jurors. He was a three-time officer of the Orange Junior Classical League, attending several state conventions and forums. Jay is an AP Scholar and STEM certificate recipient who plans to attend Colby College in the fall to study computer science.

ALLISON KING, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Kalvin and Maureen King. She was a two-year captain of the varsity softball team and a member of the varsity field hockey team. She participated in Model State Legislature, is a member of the National Honor Society, received the RIT Computing Medal, and was selected to the Academic All-State field hockey team. Allison will be attending Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she will play softball and major in finance.

TIM LAVALLEE, of Kennebunkport, is the son of Andrea and William Lavallee. His future plan is to attend Central Maine Community College in Auburn. He will participate in the Ford ASSET Program which is a two-year, degree course. After graduating, Tim plans to work at the Ford dealership in Arundel.

JULIE LUDWIG, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Phil and Joan Ludwig. She has been on the math team, debate team and has served as a chemistry tutor. An AP Scholar, she is a recipient of the Yale Book Award and a member of the National Honor Society. Julie was selected for and participated in the Quantum Cryptography Program at University of Waterloo and Yale University’s Global Scholars Program. She will study math and science at Bates College this fall.

JANSEN MANAHAN, of Kennebunk, son of Tim and Kate Manahan. He will be attending Northeastern University in Boston to study economics. He has participated in Model State, Student Council, football, track and field, Ultimate Frisbee, and Model United Nations where he won best delegate for his committee. He would like to thank the entire community of RSU 21.

JIVANNA MASON, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Janga Mason. She has been a member of Captain’s Club, International Club, Interact Club, and Gender Equality Club throughout her high school career. She will be attending Clark University in the fall, double majoring in Neuroscience and Biochemistry on a premedical track with a research concentration toward surgery.

MAIA MULCAHY, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Dr. Patrick and Andrea Mulcahy. She was president of the creative writing club, a member of both the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Society, and was co-captain of the robotics team her sophomore year. Her participation in ten KHS theatre productions has influenced her volunteer work at River Tree Arts Center, where she teaches theatre to children. She will major in public relations at the University of Miami.

JACLIN MURPHY, valedictorian, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Jack and Jean Murphy. She was president of the National Honor Society, captain of the field hockey and track & field teams, and manager of the ice hockey team. Jaclin served as an executive officer of the Class of 2015. She participated in Model State, Mock Trial and Model UN. Jaclin plans to attend Boston College in the fall.

JACOB ORANSKY, salutatorian, of Kennebunkport, is the son of Lori and Charles Oransky. He was a high honor student all four years and a four-year member of the math team, competing in every meet. Jake was on the golf team, participated in Maine Youth in Government, and played piano for nine years. The recipient of the RIT Computing Medal, he will attend Plymouth State University, where he plans to study meteorology.

HANNAH PEPIN, of Kennebunk is the daughter of Holly and Carl Pepin. She was co-captain of the girls lacrosse team and was selected as a US Lacrosse Academic All-American her junior year. She was also co-captain of the girls’ basketball team. Hannah was a member of Peer Helpers, “Girl Talk,” and the National Honor Society. A recipient of the Smith College Book Award., Hannah plans to attend Connecticut College in the fall.

SIENNA ROBERGE, of Kennebunkport, is the daughter of Scott and Diana Roberge. She was a devoted member of her local and global community. The recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Award and the Dartmouth Book Award, Sienna was a member of both the National Honors Society and Tri-M Music Honors Society. In the fall, Sienna will attend the University of Vermont to study environmental engineering.

MADISON SHMALO, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Melanie and Nathan Shmalo. She was a four-year member of the Student Senate, acting as moderator during senior year. Co-president for two years of Interact Club, she was also the co-founder of KHS’s new club, Girl Talk. Madison was a member of National Honor Society, Captains’ Club, and the Yearbook Committee and participated in numerous theater productions. She will attend Bates College.

ALLISON WEAVER, of Kennebunk, is the daughter of Maureen Adams Weaver and Daniel Weaver. She was a member of the National Honor Society and KHS Senate. She was captain of the varsity soccer team, she was on the swim and lacrosse teams. Allison was the recipient of the Society for Women in Engineering Award and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. She will be attending Boston University as a Lutchen Fellow, majoring in biomedical engineering

Kennebunk High School’s Class of 2015

Thomas D. Adelhardt, Taylor L. Anderson, Neil P. Ash, Samantha M. Auriemma, Katherine A. Bauld, Keenan O. Beaudette, Joseph D. Beaudoin, David B. Behrens, Alexander J. Berry, Danielle J. Bickford, Eric Bjoerk, Regan K. Blanchard, Jacob B. Boothby, Sasha S. Boudreau, Sarah M. Bradley, Sean M. Brannen, Jennifer L. Bremser, Emma L. Bridges, Rachel M. Brigham, Sean P. Brimigion, Benjamin M. Broughton, Kyle T. Broughton, Hannah K. Brown, Isabella C. Bruns, Hunter R. Bundy, Andrew J. Burns, Nicholas A. S. Bush, Jr., Victoria P. Cabral, Brian W. Campbell, Jane P. Carr, Dominique A. Child, Noah G. Cimenian, Austin G. Cole,  John P. Connolly, Michael J. Connolly, Jacob H. Connors, Hunter R. Coughlan, Skye M. Crump, Jonathan M. Curran, Kenneth A. Davis, Jonah C. Desrochers, Andrea K. Dest, Tyler D. Dickinson, Colby A. Dion,  Christianne S. Doane, Carigan B. Doe, George F. Doe, Tyler J. Dolan, Kate N. Doody, Sierra A. Dorney, Sydney M. Douston, Abigail E. Doyle, Samuel J. Driscoll, Meaghan E. Dube, Donald D. Dubois, Adrienne D. Dumas, Tyler F. Dumas, Caroline E. Dunn, Reilly S. Egan, Harry N. Fay, Hayley M. Fecko, Julian J. Felvinci, Emily R. Ferrick, Kristiana L. Fleischer, Andrew L. Flynn, Dana N. Foley, Alexander R. Gaulkin, Corey M. Gilbert, John J. Graydon, Colin R. Gross, Ryan M. Guevin, Cole J. Hallee, Olivia E. Hammer-Grant, Jonathan T. Hansen, Dominic F. Haritos, Kaleigh R. Haroldsen, Lindsey A. Hatch, Samuel T. Heikkinen, Caroline L. Hoch, Thea N. Hollman, Huiniu Hu, Jay T. S. Huskins, Hannah D. Ingham, Shanni R. Jervis, Cody M. Jewett, Zachary W. Jewett, Connor R. Johnson, Emily D. Kasprzak, Heather A. Kidwell, Allison M. King, Jacob A. Kumph, Elizabeth R. Lamper, John A. Lapham, Benjamin J. Lary, Timothy J. Lavallee, Michael P. C. LeBlanc, Gregory T. Leclair, Cameron T. Ledesma, Mark E. Lightbody, Linda A. Line, Caitlyn M. Littlefield, Julie A. Ludwig, Anne E. Lyden, Samantha A. Machado, James D. Macolini, Cody J. Malitsky, Sarah R. Mallory, Jansen W. Manahan, Jivanna N. Mason, Jake T. Mastrangelo, Castine A. Mathews, Cara A. McCluskey, Kristina M. McDermott, Garrett W. McGrath, Jennifer M. McGuire, Lauren K. Mercer, Shelby N. Monk, Allison M. Morgan, Maia J. Mulcahy, Erin E. Murphy, Jaclin A. Murphy, Patric H. Murphy, Hunter A. Nelson, Kacie L. Nelson, Isaac O. Nicoll, Thomas F. Noble, Shane B. Normandeau, Cooper N. Nunan, Johannes W. Oosten, Jacob P. Oransky, Claudia Zuil Ortego, Nicholas C. Ouellette, David R. Parker, Michael D. Pastorelli, Hannah E. Pepin, Richard J. R. Platt, Dylan J. Putnam, Austin T. Ramsdell, Corey L. Reddy, Kylie A. Reynolds, Christopher J. Richard, Katherine E. Richard, Emily K. Rickert, Matthew T. Rimmer, Sienna L. Roberge, Christopher Rose, Honza Rutrle, Anna R. Shardlow, Joshua D. Shelley, Connor W. Shillington, Madison V. Shmalo, Caroline M. Smith, Tyler M. Smith, Sarah E. Spaulding, Zanna E. Spinney, Marissa L. Staples, Nicholas K. Staples, Maddison K. Stevens, Dennis P. Stimpson Jr., Bennett S. Stone, Carter J. Stone, Joshua R. Strack, Liam M. Studley, Jeremy M. Sudol, Spencer W. Teachout, Kaitlin M. Thibeau, Caroline S. Thompson, Nathan M. J. Traynor, Nichole M. Violette, Harrison C. Vosburgh, Timothy W. Walsh, Allison P. Weaver, Tiffany M. Weeks, Adam P. Weeman, Alyssa L. Weigle, Ryan M. Whalen, Kristin E. Wiewel, Sabrina M. Wing, Samuel B. Wright, Zongkan Ye, Eric A. Yemma Jr. and Rebecca L. Zub.

The Scarborough Town Council on Wednesday will consider scheduling a second school budget validation vote for July 7.

Residents voted on June 9 to reject a proposed $43.8 million budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 – up 4.3 percent over the $42 million budget for this year.

The vote was 1,719 to 1,408 against the proposed budget. On a non-binding companion question, 1,761 voters said the budget was too high, 619 said it was too low and 710 said it was just right.

The proposed amount to be raised in taxes was $39.1 million, up $2.9 million – 8 percent – over 2014-15. It would have added 76 cents to Scarborough’s current tax rate of $15.10 per $1,000 property value – $152 to the annual tax bill for a $200,000 home.

On Wednesday, the council will begin working toward a new bottom line for the school budget. A public hearing and council vote are scheduled for June 24.

AUGUSTA — The graduation ceremony was like any other: black caps and gowns and general advice doled out, with students told they have bright futures ahead of them.

But the four students who received their high school diplomas at a small ceremony Tuesday had never sat in classrooms with their fellow graduates or even met them in person before that day.

The students, along with a fifth who couldn’t attend the ceremony, were the inaugural graduates of the state’s first virtual charter school, Maine Connections Academy.

This past school year, four years after Maine lawmakers approved the law allowing charter schools, there were six charter schools in the state, but Maine Connections Academy was the only one without physical classrooms. A seventh charter school and second virtual one, The Maine Virtual Academy, is set to open in the fall.

Students can choose to attend charter schools, which offer different educational programs or settings compared to traditional public schools. Public school districts now have to pay the tuition for local students attending charter schools, but a bill passed last month will shift the funding responsibility to the state.

Students in Tuesday’s graduation said they enrolled at Maine Connections Academy, which is based in South Portland, because they were dissatisfied with the education at their previous schools.

One student, Shaynah-Cherokeigh Seames of Bethel, said the online classes at Maine Connections Academy allowed her to learn at her own pace. In her speech at the ceremony, she said Maine Connections Academy let her do what she loves – hunting, fishing and caring for horses – while still getting her schoolwork done.

Seames, 18, previously attended schools in Bethel-based School Administrative District 44, but had been homeschooled since 10th grade, she said. When she was in school previously, Seames said, she found she learned differently from and more quickly than her peers.

“I was always getting bored in class, and I didn’t want to do my work,” she said.

Seames was joined at the ceremony by graduates Serena Billie-Jo Gorham of Lyman and Maddy Dexter of Portland.

The ceremony also served as a promotion for charter schools, which have been controversial in the state.

Critics, including public education groups in Maine, have questioned the quality of the education and have bemoaned the allocation of public funding for the schools. Supporters say charter schools provide more options to students, including those who might struggle in traditional classrooms or need more flexibility because of other commitments.

Maine Connections Academy is operated by Connections Academy, a Baltimore-based virtual school division of Pearson PLC, a publishing and education company in London.

A 2012 Maine Sunday Telegram investigation of Connections Education, which controls Connections Academy, and K12, the country’s largest online education company, showed that Maine’s digital education policies benefited the two companies, that the companies recruited board members in the state and that their schools in other states had fared poorly in analyses of student achievement.

Maine Connections Academy held its graduation ceremony at the Maine Principals’ Association building in Augusta, even though the association opposed the 2011 legislation to allow charter schools in Maine.

Principal Karl Francis, in his welcome speech at Tuesday’s ceremony, espoused the benefits of charter schools and reflected on how Maine Connections Academy has changed since the start of its inaugural year. Instead of hearing people question the school’s ability to enroll enough students or the effectiveness of the education, he said he now sees teachers and students collaborating to improve the school.

“We all stand strong and united to challenge those who challenge our value, our worth, our mission,” Francis said. “We all stand strong and united with unwavering resolve for school choice and for the students of Maine.”

The school had 270 students in its first year, and next year it’s expected to have 396 students, Francis said. The school also is hiring five new staff members to manage the increase, he said.

“It’s no longer trying to get to the surface. It’s how do we make ourselves better,” Francis said.

The Portland School Board voted Tuesday night to rebuild the aging Fred P. Hall Elementary School in its existing location on Orono Road off outer Brighton Avenue.

By choosing to rebuild the school with $20 million in state aid, the majority of the nine-member board opted not to consider other options, which included consolidating Hall Elementary with another aging school, Longfellow Elementary School.

Laurie Davis, the only School Board member to vote against the plan, suggested that school officials needed to look outside the box at options like redistricting and school consolidation. She also expressed concerns about the long-term financial burden on taxpayers – especially the elderly and retirees living on fixed incomes – of putting all the money that is currently available into fixing one school when other schools in the district are in need of replacements or repairs.

Longfellow School is currently on a waiting list for state funding but is low on the list, making it unclear whether the Maine Department of Education will agree to fund the school project at some point in the future or whether the city will have to pay for those improvements.

Davis was unable to gather support for postponing the decision until August, with her colleagues voting to proceed with the plan to rebuild Hall Elementary School.

“Holding up Hall School is just not fair to the community,” said Sarah Thompson, chairwoman of the School Board. “For me, I think we have waited long enough.”

The rebuilding process, which will involve asking Portland voters to approve the project at a citywide referendum in 2016 – the date has not been set – will begin July 1 with a meeting of the Hall School Building Committee. The committee will oversee the design and construction of the new school, which will be built to accommodate 525 students.

Oak Point Associates, the school department’s architect, determined that building a larger, consolidated school on either the Longfellow School site or Hall School property would cause disruptions in those neighborhoods. A consolidated school built at Longfellow School’s campus on Stevens Avenue, for instance, would require that Deering High School’s football field be taken for development purposes.

This month, a group of concerned parents called Portlanders for Neighborhood Schools turned in a petition signed by more than 560 residents. The group said it wanted to preserve the city’s walkable neighborhood schools and said they were opposed to consolidation.

A so-called “megaschool” would have more then 800 students.

On Tuesday night, several parents spoke in favor of rebuilding Hall Elementary at its current location.

“We want a school our kids can walk to and one small enough so our kids don’t get lost in the shuffle,” said Scott Segal, who has two school-age children enrolled in Portland schools.

School Board member Marnie Morrione said the School Board had dithered long enough.

“We have waited far too long, and the public – we are just stringing them along,” Morrione said. “We need to move forward and be expeditious to getting back to our commitment to rebuild Hall School.”

The Scarborough Town Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to reduce the proposed school budget by $500,000 in the hope of winning voter approval in a second validation referendum on July 7.

The reduction amount will be the subject of a public hearing and final council vote on June 24. Proposals to cut as much as $2 million and as little as $350,000 failed to win majority support.

Town residents voted June 9 to reject a proposed $43.8 million school budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that was up 4.3 percent over this year’s $42 million budget.

The vote was 1,719 to 1,408 against the proposed budget. On a non-binding companion question, 1,761 voters said the budget was too high, 619 said it was too low and 710 said it was just right.

With the initial school budget, the property tax rate for municipal and school services would have increased 87 cents or 5.78 percent, from $15.10 to $15.97 per $1,000 of assessed value. That would have added $261 to the annual tax bill on a $300,000 home.

With a $500,000 school budget reduction, the tax rate would increase 72 cents to $15.82 per $1,000, which would add $216 to the same tax bill.

YARMOUTH — Before the fourth-graders walked into the music room Wednesday, Karen Renton seemed more excited to be one class away from summer vacation than emotional about coming to the end of her 34-year career.

“I have a smile that just doesn’t stop today,” she said.

But that would change.

At 10:20 a.m., the students started trickling into the room at Yarmouth Elementary School where Renton has taught for all but two years of her career.

“Hello, my friends. Come in, come in,” she said, as they took seats on the edges of a big blue rug with a treble clef in the center.

Renton, 55, thought she was going to be a marine biologist until her senior year at Edward Little High School in Auburn. That’s when the flute and piccolo player started favoring music over science.

“You know how they talk about significant people in your lives?” she said. The band director was hers.

She aspired to follow her mentor’s career path, complete with summers off, and studied music education at the University of New Hampshire.

Renton’s first job was in the Sacopee Valley School District, where she was the sole music teacher for kindergarten to seventh-grade students from Hiram and four other western Maine towns.

“I was burning fast,” she said of having to go between the district’s seven schools.

She also was dating a man based at the Brunswick Naval Air Station – “one of those Navy guys that my grandmother told me to look out for,” she said – and wanted to be closer to him. When a fellow music teacher she had met in a summer class told her she was leaving her job in Yarmouth, Renton – then Karen Mary Tassinari – made sure to apply.

The superintendent was concerned that she didn’t play the piano. And although she sang as a kid, her brothers had teased her out of ever joining a chorus. The job would require her to lead one.

Still, the principal and music teacher from Yarmouth came to observe her class.

“I had them dancing with first-graders,” Renton said. She thinks that’s what got her the job.

MAKING AN IMPACT, ENDING A CAREER

Since then, Renton has worked for five principals and four superintendents. Fifteen years ago, she petitioned for a window in her room, the hottest in the school, and got it. She developed a curriculum around her guitar, which she named Gretchen, taught the stories of the great composers, and got kids who were convinced they were bad at music to read notes from a page and play them on the recorder.

She has received letters from former students reminiscing about all of it, and notes from others who remember something more.

There is one letter in particular that chokes up Renton when she thinks of it. It came from a student who never stood out, but wanted to let her know that her class made him feel safe.

“That’s what it’s all about,” she said. “That’s what makes the difference.”

At some point along the way, Renton married that Navy guy, who’s 10 years her senior. Their plan has always been for her to retire when he turned 65.

“Everybody always says, ‘You’ll know when you’re ready,’ ” she said, and this year, she did.

In the fall, when she and her husband came across a two-week cruise that leaves for the Caribbean at the end of October, she had to make a decision.

“Finally, my husband said, ‘Let’s book it,’ ” she said.

As Renton started her last week of classes, she still didn’t think it would hit her until school started in September without her. She remained unfazed through most of her last class.

As she strummed Gretchen’s strings, the students sang along, then sat quietly, some with their heads buried in their knees, as she read the last chapter from a book about Beethoven.

They grabbed xylophones and glockenspiels from the shelves to play along to “Ode to Joy,” following the red dot from Renton’s laser pointer that jumped from note to note on the sheet music projected on a screen in front of the class.

MUSICAL FINALE WITH MEANING

Near the end of the period, she got out yellow plastic cups for a game she’d been using to teach rhythm to children long before actress Anna Kendrick popularized it in the movie “Pitch Perfect.”

Sitting at the front of the room, Renton led the class through a song playing from her iPod, clapping, tapping on the cup, picking it up and tossing it in the air.

Then she played a video of four teenagers replicating Kendrick’s cup percussion to her remake of the Carter Family song “When I’m Gone.”

Moving through the classroom, she sat down with clusters of kids as they tried to tap the cups to the beat, some girls performing it by heart, while others, with the end of the school year moments away, barely sitting up.

Through the song, Renton’s encouraging smile was focused on the children, until it came to the last lyric, when she turned toward the teens on the projector, her lips pursed.

They sang, “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.”

Three years after joining the Portland Public Schools, Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk is one of two finalists to lead the 40,000-student Lexington, Kentucky, public school system, officials said Friday.

Caulk was hired in July 2012 to be Portland’s school superintendent, and has several years remaining on his contract. The school board voted unanimously this past November to extend his contract to June 2019.

“I am most grateful to the school board for its support and I consider it a privilege and an honor to have been able to serve Portland Public Schools students, staff and families and the Portland community for the past three years,” Caulk said in a news release issued by the Portland Public Schools.

“I will miss Portland, but I’m eager to take on a new career challenge that represents an opportunity for me personally and professionally.”

Caulk did not return messages seeking comment Friday, and the news release did not address the question of whether he would give up his post in Portland if he does not get the job in Kentucky.

Caulk is one of two finalists to be superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools in Kentucky. The other candidate is Terri Breeden, assistant superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. Caulk and Breeden will be interviewed in person next week, and meet with community members through forums and receptions, according to Lisa Deffendall, spokeswoman for the Fayette County Public Schools.

Portland School Board Chairwoman Sarah Thompson said she hoped Caulk would stay in Portland.

“I think he’s really done a great job for Portland. My hope is that he will potentially consider staying,” Thompson said. “Certainly the board would love for him to stay.”

Thompson said the board would find a possible interim superintendent and then search for a permanent replacement if Caulk decides to leave.

Deffendall said Caulk and his wife would be in Lexington on Tuesday and Wednesday. Caulk got married last week, according to Thompson

Thompson called Caulk “a transformational superintendent,” noting his work on upgrading school facilities, his focus on student achievement and particularly his efforts to improve community outreach.

“It’s huge, the amount he’s accomplished in three years,” she said.

Caulk, 43, joined the Portland school district when it was still recovering financially from a budget crisis that led then-superintendent Mary Jo O’Connor to resign in 2007. She was succeeded by James Morse, who left after his three-year term.

During Caulk’s tenure, the district adopted a new Spanish immersion program, and expanded pre-kindergarten classes in the district. He also was the first superintendent to have charter schools in the area drawing students from the district, creating a drain on district finances.

A RECORD OF SUCCESS

In recent months, he has overseen an agreement to allow high school students to ride Portland Metro instead of traditional yellow buses, and extend the school day by 20 minutes for all students.

He also created a “district scorecard” to collect various student and district data in one place, and set future benchmarks for improvement. He had to relaunch the scorecard after the initial product had data errors. A contractor’s mistake indicated scores in 11th-grade writing and science had doubled, when they had barely changed.

He also proposed, and then withdrew, a plan to launch a virtual school within the district. Caulk said he wanted to lure back students who had left the district for area charter schools, but withdrew the plan after criticism from Maine’s commissioner of education and Portland’s mayor.

Caulk has an annual salary of $137,500. The Lexington position is posted at between $235,000 and $255,000. The last superintendent there, Tom Shelton, left in December to be executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents.

“Our community asked us to find a superintendent with a record of success in an urban school district and documented results of consistently improving achievement for all students,” Fayette County Board of Education Chairman John Price said in a news release announcing the selection of Caulk and Breeden as finalists. “We are confident that as superintendent these two transformational leaders would put children at the center of every decision he or she makes, and rebuild trust and strengthen relationships with students, employees, families and the community at large.”

Before coming to Portland, Caulk worked in Philadelphia as an assistant superintendent in charge of a division with 36 schools and 16,500 students, more than twice Portland’s enrollment of roughly 7,000 students.

“I think he’s done a lot of work in the community. He’s been an engaging superintendent who understands equality in education,” said board member Pious Ali. “I’m proud to have had the opportunity to work with him.”

Board member Holly Seeliger said she was surprised by the announcement.

“I think it’s unfortunate that Manny is leaving us,” she said.

“I know Manny worked really hard and tried to make Maine work for him, but I don’t know if Maine was the best fit for him,” Seeliger said. “I hope we can find a superintendent with ties to Maine and some experience with Maine education.”

Noel K. Gallagher can be contacted at 791-6387 or at:

ngallagher@pressherald.com

The Scarborough Town Council voted 4-2 Wednesday night to reduce the proposed school budget by $500,000 in the hope of winning voter approval in a second validation referendum on July 7.

Town residents voted June 9 to reject a proposed $43.8 million school budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 that was up 4.3 percent over this year’s $42 million budget.

The vote was 1,719 to 1,408 against the proposed budget. On a non-binding companion question, 1,761 voters said the budget was too high, 619 said it was too low and 710 said it was just right.

With the initial school budget, the property tax rate for municipal and school services would have increased 87 cents or 5.78 percent, from $15.10 to $15.97 per $1,000 of assessed value. That would have added $261 to the annual tax bill on a $300,000 home.

With a $500,000 school budget reduction, the tax rate would increase 72 cents or 4.75 percent to $15.82 per $1,000, which would add $216 to the same tax bill.

Councilors Edward Blaise, Shawn Babine, Peter Hayes and Chairwoman Jessica Holbrook voted in favor of the $500,000 reduction, with Jean Marie Caterina and William Donovan opposed, and Katherine St. Clair absent.

OAKLAND — Opponents and supporters of the Regional School Unit 18 school budget are ramping up get-out-the-vote efforts as residents get ready to go to the polls for a second round of voting on a spending plan for the next school year.

Supporters have been distributing fliers and putting up lawn signs, while opponents have been circulating a “fiction and fact” sheet from an anonymous source that the superintendent says contains out-of-date figures and errors.

The districtwide ballot vote is scheduled for Tuesday.

Residents gave initial approval to a $34.4 million spending plan for 2015-2016 at a district budget meeting last week. The budget reflects almost $293,000 in cuts the school board made after voters rejected a proposed $34.7 million budget 747-619 in a May 18 referendum.

Voters in Oakland and China backed the budget in May by tight margins. Select boards in Belgrade, Sidney and Rome, the three towns that opposed it, came out forcefully in opposition to the original proposal before the May vote.

On Friday, some of the same officials said they still oppose the plan, despite the budget cuts, many supporting their argument with the “RSU 18 Fiction and Fact Sheet,” which implies that RSU 18 officials have made misleading statements and that there are areas in which the school district easily could save money.

Opponents worry that spending is too high and continually results in yearly increases in property tax rates in their towns.

But parents of students in the schools, Superintendent Gary Smith and some town officials say the recent cuts reflect hard work by the budget committee.

In Rome, school board member Andrew Cook has been working hard to get the vote out, paying for a postcard mailer to registered voters and helping put out yard signs encouraging people to support the budget.

He said other school board members are doing the same thing.

“We’ve worked hard on it. We’re standing up for it,” he said.

In neighboring Belgrade, the Board of Selectpersons earlier this week voted 5-0 to oppose the budget.

Selectman Chairman Ernie Rice said Friday he intends to be at the Belgrade transfer station on Saturday to pass out information and encourage residents to vote on Tuesday. Board members in the town did the same thing before May’s vote.

Despite the cuts, Rice said the school board has not taken the time to consider other savings, such as contracting for transportation, maintenance and cleaning.

“If they really and truly sat down, they could really look at places where they can cut,” he said.

“We really care about the children’s education, but there are areas where there are cuts that should be made,” Rice added.

Rice said he also is concerned that the school district has not been billing MaineCare for eligible services, one of the claims made in the “fiction and fact” sheet. That issue has gained traction with opponents, who say RSU 18 hasn’t been billing for eligible MaineCare services that could reduce the budget by $250,000.

Smith said the district had opted not to bill MaineCare because the process is expensive and paperwork-heavy, which would end up costing the district more.

Schools can bill MaineCare for services through its special education program, Smith said, but the billing model is the same as that used by hospitals and would require extra work from the district staff, or could mean adding to the staff.

He said he didn’t know how much the district could expect to get from MaineCare, but it wouldn’t be the $250,000 cited in the “fiction and fact” sheet.

There are plans to change the billing process to make it easier for school districts, Smith added.

“Very simply, it is our stance right now that until we have a different billing model, it makes sense to maintain our special education model,” he said.

There is no indication on the sheet who authored it, and those circulating it won’t say who put it together. It states the information is “based on” data available in the RSU 18 budget and through the Maine Department of Education.

Smith said he hasn’t seen the sheet but heard about it, had fielded questions about it and is familiar with the information on it. He said he thought some information it used was out of date.

“I don’t know how this data was put together,” he said. “I have no idea where those numbers came from.

“That’s the beauty of being an anonymous writer; nothing has to be factual,” Smith added.

Laura Parker, a Sidney selectwoman and vocal opponent of the budget, said the person who sent out the sheet was not being named publicly because he or she is worried about retaliation.

Although Sidney selectmen have not taken a formal position on the budget, she and others still oppose it, despite the cuts, Parker said.

“I think they left too much money on the table again,” she said.

Tim Russell, a Sidney selectman, used numbers from the “fiction and fact” sheet to support his argument against the budget.

Russell said he “doesn’t know exactly for sure” who put the “fiction and fact” sheet out, but the numbers jibe “with what I’ve seen” in the budget and information from the education department.

CONCORD, N.H. — Gov. Maggie Hassan says a bill that would require schools to give parents two weeks’ notice before using sexually explicit material in class would make it harder for young people to receive public health education or study important literature.

Hassan expressed her concerns with the bill Friday after she vetoed it. The bill says either a school district or teacher must give parents advance notice before using course material centered on human sexuality or sex education.

Hassan is raising concerns that the bill would create a stigma around sex education in schools and could keep students from learning about contraception or sexually transmitted diseases. Opponents argued earlier this year that the bill could lead to objections around classic literature such as William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Supporters of the legislation say parents have a right to know if their children will be dealing with material they may find objectionable.

Under existing law parents must identify, in writing, what material they find objectionable and agree to an alternative for their child to still meet educational standards.

The issue of explicit material in schools came to the forefront last year when a father in Gilford objected to his daughter’s class reading the novel “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult because it included a sexually explicit passage.

The bill passed both Legislative chambers largely along party lines, making it unlikely there will be the necessary two-thirds threshold to override Hassan’s veto.

Southern Maine Community College will provide technical training to nearly 100 marine electricians at Bath Iron Works.

An agreement signed Friday at BIW provides $75,000 in additional grant funding from the Maine Quality Centers to extend the training program for up to another 87 marine electricians who were recently hired by the shipbuilder, according to a release from the college. The training is scheduled to begin in July.

SMCC has already trained almost 100 marine electricians at BIW under a previous training agreement.

“SMCC is committed to workforce development training,” SMCC President Ron Cantor said. “We provide Maine workers skills they need not just for jobs, but for high-paying careers with bright futures through our in-demand degree programs and on-the-spot workforce training.”

Since last fall, SMCC’s Business & Community Partnerships Department has provided hands-on training to more than 80 BIW marine electricians to give them enhanced skills sought by the company. SMCC also provided specialized exam preparation for another 27 BIW workers to allow them to earn a certification to improve their career opportunities within the company.

Bath Iron Works is among the largest private employers in Maine with about 5,700 employees.

The Maine Quality Centers is part of the Maine Community College System and provides customized workforce training grants to Maine employers.

Like many college students, recent University of Maine graduate Sarah Fearing and her family were careful to set aside money for college, but she still wound up graduating with debt.

That’s OK with Fearing, who said without the savings, she would have graduated with even more student loan debt.

“I only owe about $15,000, definitely no more than $20,000, which is really good,” said Fearing, who graduated in May with a double major in journalism and psychology. “It’s because we pulled money from different places and my parents helped. I didn’t have to accept student loans every semester.”

According to the Project on Student Debt, 78 percent of University of Maine graduates have student loan debt, with an average amount of $34,389.

Heading into college, Fearing felt pretty prepared financially.

“My parents had been buying savings bonds for me literally since I was a newborn,” she said. “By the time I was going to college, we had about $14,000 in savings bonds, so we chipped away at that throughout college.”

She also had about $8,000 in scholarship money, mostly from her hometown of Union.

But her freshman year alone – when all Orono students are required to live on campus – cost about $20,000.

“Without that scholarship money, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go,” Fearing said. She applied for financial aid, but got only about $7,500, she said.

“My parents fall right in that bracket where you don’t get too much (federal student aid) because (their income) looks good on paper, but when it comes down to it, they don’t have the money to pay for my entire college,” she said. “They can help a little, but not too much.”

Instead, she knit together money from scholarships, jobs, savings and loans. She moved off campus her sophomore year to lower her costs.

Over the four years, she also drained her personal savings account, which at one point held $18,000. Her parents chipped in several thousand dollars from their own savings over the years and she held jobs during school breaks and summers.

– Noel K. Gallagher

It took getting “thrown to the wolves” for Casey Webster to figure out a better – and cheaper – way to get a college degree.

Get a job where the boss foots the bill.

After an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Maine left her with $37,000 in student loan debt, Webster didn’t want to end her schooling. But she also didn’t want to go any deeper in debt.

As an out-of-state undergrad, she paid higher tuition, and her family made too much money to qualify for financial aid. For her first year at USM, she used a healthy scholarship package and took out private loans. Her sophomore year, she moved out of the dorms hoping to save money.

“I just got thrown to the wolves when I got off campus,” she said. “I couldn’t pay for heat. I was eating ramen noodles all the time.”

It was a major financial wake-up call, she said. She realized she needed a job, a savings account and a better plan to pay for college.

“I couldn’t get work-study and couldn’t find work. I ended up working at the deli counter at Hannaford – and I’m a vegetarian. It was the only job available,” she said. Later, she got work at the USM library, graduating in 2009 with a bachelor’s in business administration.

Then she got a permanent job at USM, and took advantage of the school’s tuition reimbursement program, which allows employees to take two free courses a semester.

Six years later, this May she earned her master’s in public policy and management from USM’s Muskie School of Public Service.

“I got a whole master’s degree out of it, and I’m going to get a law degree out of it,” said Webster, who made arrangements with the University of Maine School of Law to take the unorthodox slow-but-steady approach to getting a law degree. “I think it’s one of the best things you can do.”

During the six years it took to get her master’s, she’s managed to pay off about $30,000 in student loan debt. She had already been paying the interest on the loans as an undergraduate.

Webster, now 28 years old, credits her mother with giving her solid financial advice.

“She’s the one who told me to start paying my interest, and when I complained about having no (spending) money she told me to go get a job,” said Webster, who hit another rough patch when she was laid off at USM during her graduate program.

Luckily, the tuition benefit continues two years after a layoff under the union contract, she said, so she kept going to her graduate courses. A year later, the university hired her back.

“I was miserable at the time. It was like being thrown to the wolves again, but it helped me,” she said.

These days she has emergency savings set aside, she said. Just another lesson learned.

– Noel K. Gallagher