Boat School report spurs criticism by Eastport supporters

A draft report prepared by Washington County Community College President William Cassidy on the cost for operating a sustainable boatbuilding program in Eastport came in for criticism at a meeting in Eastport on how it presents the options for funding the school in Eastport and an alternative for funding the program in Calais. Cassidy was asked by Governor John Baldacci, through the Maine Community College System, to develop a proposal that will "allow us to continue our presence here with the boatbuilding program," he stated.

The report projects an additional $433,877 needed to keep the program running at the Marine Technology Center, while an alternative of moving the program to the Calais campus would need $100,000 in additional funding. The report will be given to Governor John Baldacci and then the legislature when it considers funding for the school.

Cassidy has presented the draft report to the Maine Community College System trustees, who are supportive of the proposal and the effort to increase enrollment in the school. On December 6 he presented the report in Eastport to interested parties, including the Friends of the Boat School, in order to receive comments on it. He will also solicit comments from other groups before making changes and forwarding the report to the system trustees by the end of the month.

Tom MacNaughton of the Friends of the Boat School, a group that was formed this summer and has made recommendations for ways to make the school sustainable, commented that every successful boatbuilding school is located next to the water. "It's my strong opinion that if this boatbuilding program is moved to Calais it will kill it." The Friends of the Boat School are in the process of becoming incorporated so that they will be able to accept donations to support the school in Eastport.

MacNaughton commented that the problem of low enrollment could be solved easily, and noted that a posting about the school on the website of his firm, MacNaughton Yacht Designs and the Yacht Design School, has led to more than one inquiry a week about the program. Those inquiries are then passed on to school administrators.

MacNaughton also pointed out that there is a tremendous demand for skilled woodworkers in the boatbuilding industry, noting that during the fall of 2004, Rockport Marine was looking for 17 woodworking boatbuilders.

The report's presentation of the program's problems and the possible alternatives came in for criticism during the meeting. It was observed that, despite the report's assertion, there had not been an aggressive recruitment drive in 2005. Also, a student's decision not to return for the second year should not be viewed as a failure but rather should be seen as showing that the student was able to obtain a job on the basis of one year of instruction. Linda Godfrey felt that there should be more information about the on-campus program and about its budget, including the budget for recruitment. The draft report does not make the case for why the program should remain in Eastport but instead only indicates that it would cost less in Calais, she stated. Also the proposal appears to demonstrate greater interest in the apprentice program than in developing a strong program in Eastport.

Boatbuilding instructor Dean Pike said the marine mechanics and marine painting programs should be brought back and the school should not limit its aim to just 35 students. "We've been nickel and diming this thing to death," commented John Grady.

The proposal for Eastport includes hiring a director again for the center, along with funding for two full-time boatbuilding instructors. The center has not had a director since 2001, and one of the two boatbuilding instructor positions was eliminated last year.

The plan also outlines the development of a new apprenticeship program for workers at boatbuilding firms around the state. With an additional $100,000 in state funding, WCCC would be able to provide statewide delivery of specialty customized training that could lead to a certificate credential. In collaboration with the boatbuilding industry and the Maine Department of Labor and the Maine Marine Trade Association, the school could expand the apprenticeship program.

The report also notes that if the boatbuilding program is moved to Calais, then most of the Marine Technology Center would be available for lease, and WCCC would be open to exploring the possibility of entering a lease arrangement with the City of Eastport.
State Senator Kevin Raye of Perry said he would advocate for funding to keep the program in Eastport with a full-time director and another instructor. "I will remain focused on plan A to obtain funding to keep this facility as strong and vital as possible." Raye has submitted a bill entitled, "An Act To Save the Marine Trades Center and Strengthen Maine's Boatbuilding Workforce," that will allow for advancing another proposal in the legislature to retain the school, if necessary.

Raye noted that the legislature's decision on funding will be made by March, so that there will more time for coming up with an alternative if the necessary funding is not provided. However, planning for alternatives should be done before that.