Education

Enrollment in Maine's community colleges grew by 4.4% this fall, but enrollment at Washington County Community College (WCCC) declined by 15 percent, to 333 students. The decline was partly caused by a decrease in the number of dislocated workers seeking retraining.

Summer has flown by, and it's almost time again to see backpack-carrying youngsters clad in new clothes, either waiting for the bus or walking to school. Opening days for area schools are as follows.

The SAD 19 Board of Directors passed a proposed budget at its May 31 meeting that would cut costs but still result in a near $100,000 increase in the amount to be raised by local taxes.

Funding to allow the Boat School to remain in Eastport was not approved this week by the legislature's Appropriations Committee, despite the strong support for legislation to provide the necessary funds shown earlier by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Union 104 Superintendent Arthur Wittine has presented a draft Eastport school budget that eliminates three full-time positions and makes $102,000 in cuts in other areas.

With funding for the Boat School to remain in Eastport under the Maine Community College System appearing increasingly unlikely, supporters of the school are preparing for a plan that seeks the transfer of the school to the city.