DEAR SUN SPOTS: I know there are a certain number of public school days that children have to meet for the year. Given all of the snow days we are having, who makes the decision to waive some of those so the kids aren’t going to school through the middle of summer? I’ve heard of it happening before in other states. Is it each school department’s superintendent or board or is it higher, such as the governor? Who do we contact to make that happen? — No name, Turner.
ANSWER: Students must have 175 days of instruction per year under state regulations, and teachers must work 181. While the Maine Department of Education can approve a waiver to the mandated 175 days, it does not happen often.
Most of the decisions around snow days come from the school district and superintendent. Some districts have made wider use of two-hour delays in order to avoid full days off because of the weather. Other options, once all of the allotted snow days have been used, would be for the school district to decide, such as using scheduled teacher workshop days as instructional days to make up the difference.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: The World’s Greatest Sleigh Ride will be held at 400 Main St. in Lisbon Falls on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a charity event for Pine Tree Society sponsored by the Pejepscot Sno-Chiefs and the Farmers Draft Horse Mule and Pony Club. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Sleigh-goers can also buy freshly made, world-famous doughnuts from the Snack Shack. Homemade stew, hot dogs and beverages are also available.
All proceeds directly support Pine Tree Camp’s Campership Fund. Every summer, more than 650 Maine children and adults with disabilities arrive at Pine Tree Camp in Rome. Campers enter a world that is barrier-free, leaving behind the confines of their disability thanks to the camp’s 285-acre, fully accessible campus. Campers actively participate in all of the activities for which Maine is famous: kayaking, boating, fishing and hiking. In addition, Pine Tree Camp provides their families with much-needed respite. Since 1945, Pine Tree Camp has welcomed all who could benefit, regardless of their ability to pay.
DEAR SUN SPOTS: The weekend of Feb. 4 through 5 there was a pike fishing derby on Sabattus Lake. There were about 2,000 people fishing on the lake. I was wondering who won the prizes. I have not seen it in the local news; why? — Maurice, Monmouth.
ANSWER: The Oak Hill Boosters Sabattus Lake Pike Derby was held over the weekend of Feb. 4. It was sponsored by Turner Publishing, Jack Traps, and L.R. Nadeau, and featured over $8,000 worth of prizes. Turner Publishing sponsored and covered the event. Photos and more information can be found on its website, turnerpublishing.net/news.
According to the fishing derby’s Facebook page (tinyurl.com/hhnq3na), the winners were:
* Brady Harrison, first prize of $2,000 for his 17.59-pound pike.
* Jim Rafuse, second prize of $1,000 for his 15.82-pound pike.
* Keegan Chasse, third prize of $500 for his 15.06-pound pike.
Additional prizes were awarded in various categories. The list of prizes can also be found on Jack Traps’ Facebook page: tinyurl.com/j4q8eyf.
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