Research Findings
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♦ Currently (fall 2006) the University College of Thomaston (UMaine) serves approximately 500 students (roughly 300 full-time equivalents) each year.
Our local educators, along with administrators from both the Community College System and the University of Maine System, estimate that once the Higher Ed Center is developed on the Many Flags Campus, we can expect:
♦ 1000 college level students within 2 years
♦ 2000 college level students within 5 years
The pent up demand for college level class offering in our area can be partially explained by the following map that clearly illustrates a “gap” in Higher Ed facilities and resources in the greater Knox County area:
Workforce Needs
We have conducted Employer Focus Group and collected employer survey data. This data also illustrates a “gap” in our greater Knox County area. The employers indicate that they simply can not locate the skilled/trained workers they need to met their needs – they often must recruit workers for outside of the area to meet their current workforce needs and expansion plans.
102,000 people live within a 30 mile radius of the heart of Knox County . And yet the post secondary education and training that is needed in this area is simply not present at the levels we need to sustain and grow our economy. Within that same 30 mile radius there are approximately 18,000 working adults with “some” post secondary education, but no degree – and another 36,000 adults with no post secondary education or training.
SAD 50 Future Options Taskforce Report
In 2004 the SAD 50 Board began considering the future of Georges Valley High School located in Thomaston. GVHS serves the towns of Thomaston, Cushing and St, George. The SAD 50 Board formed the “GVHS Future Options Taskforce” to look into possible scenarios for GVHS.
An enrollment projection study was completed, as was a review of the educational programs and physical space at GVHS. A steady decline in enrollment was projected, and the analysis of the building revealed that it would cost nearly as must to repair/upgrade the existing early 1960’s era building as it would to rebuild it completely. In addition, the taskforce determined that the projected decrease in the student body (down to approximately only 250 students by 2010) would not provide the “critical mass” of student they need to offer a full array of courses that their students would need to succeed in the 21st century. Finally, it was also noted in the report that it was extremely unlikely that the State would provide any funding to repair, update or rebuild a high school for a small (and declining) number of students – if the GVHS were to be repaired/updated/ rebuilt – the taxpayers of SAD 50 would have to bear the total cost.
After a long hard tear of research, discussion, field trips, data analysis, the Future Options Taskforce recommended that SAD 50 should consider building a new building and possibly consolidating with a neighboring high school. The Taskforce also recommended that the new regional HS that they proposed should be co-located on the Many Flags campus, along with the Voc Tech School and a Higher Ed Center.
This is of course a very brief overview of the extensive work that the Taskforce completed. Please click here to download a full copy of the SAD 50 Future Options Taskforce report –complete with detailed enrollment projections, analysis and recommendations.
SAD 50 Future Option Taskforce Report
SAD 5 – “Consolidation Committee” Report
The SAD 5 Board attended some of the SAD 50 Future Option Taskforce public meetings. Upon hearing the recommendations made by the SAD 50 Taskforce – the SAD 5 Board decided that they too wanted to review the current and future needs at the Rockland District High School . A “Consolidation Committee” was formed in the spring of 2006. The Committee is performing a detailed review of all SAD 5 buildings and also taking a close look at the RDHS programs and facilities.
The final report of the SAD 5 Consolidation Committee will be completed and recommendations made to the SAD 5 Board in Oct 2006. However, the Consolidation Committee did vote unanimously in August 2006 to recommend that the SAD 5 Bd move forward with the research and joint planning needed to possibly merge with GVHS to form a regional high school co-located on the Many Flags Campus along with the Voc Tech School and a Higher Ed Center. Members of the SAD 5 Bd and Administration have since joined the Many Flags Steering Committee.
We anticipate that the final report of the Consolidation Committee, complete with recommendations, will be available on this website in Oct 2006.
MSAD 5 Consolidation Commitee Report
Other Studies
During the past 2 years three organizations have completed studies in Mane that helped the Many Flags Steering Committee make the decision to move towards a regional, high performing, applied-learning education model. All three studies have illustrated the need to increase our post secondary education attainment (and aspiration) levels, as well as illustrating the dramatic impact that early college/dual enrollment has on educational attainment. In addition, the relative merits of regional consolidation approaches are also discussed in these studies.
The three organizations& reports are:
♦ The Mitchell Institute: “Barriers to Post Secondary Education in Maine ”
♦ The Maine Compact for Higher Education: “Great Expectations – College as a Right and
♦ Responsibility for all Maine People”
♦ The Maine Children’s Alliance : “A Case for Cooperation”
Click to download those reports :
Greater Expectations Compact Report
