Bullying concerns raised at Deer Isle-Stonington School Board meeting

Residents also speak out to support music program as state reduces its cost share

May 13, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

STONINGTON–The Deer Isle-Stonington School Board met on May 6 to discuss the budget and changes in the upcoming school year, but were met with growing public concern about school bullying and program cuts.

Board chair Genevieve McDonald invited the audience to share concerns and ideas while addressing issues within the district.

“We want to hear your concerns and we want to hear what issues there are with the schools,” McDonald said. “We need ideas. We don’t have all of the ideas or all of the solutions but maybe you do.”

Bullying

Parent Katie Proper said her son was recently physically assaulted at the Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School school.

Katie Proper, parent of a child who was assaulted in school speaks to the board about her child's attack. Photo by Jessi Hardy.

“No kid, no matter what, deserves what he got,” said Proper of her son’s experience. “What bothered me most [is that] he was unsupervised.”

Proper said her son’s experience has impacted his mental health and that school is failing to protect students. She said the environment is unsafe and that her family’s experience needed to be brought to the attention of the school board.

In the past month, three families have opted to remove their children from the elementary school as concerns about bullying have risen.

Parent Lynsey Hardy said the school's bullying policy is lacking.

“The policy is very gray,” Hardy said. “We [have] an excellent explanation of what a bully is and the roles of a bully, but we don’t have a procedure to tell staff, parents or the students what to do. There is no ABC of what to do. We have a lot of work to do.”

Hardy said she would like to see a change in the policy and sees an opportunity to give it direction. The board made no comment on the policy.

Jason Whiteman, a third grade teacher at the elementary school, said bullying issues have spilled over to his classroom and noted there are “a lot of angry people about this issue.” Whiteman said he “takes action” to help ensure the safety of his students and that he was “fired without cause or even an explanation.”

“We are putting kids in a world where we’re going to mimic what they see here. We are a nexus. We are the common place where things meet,” Whiteman said. “It’s our duty and responsibility to make sure that we give kids the tools to be able to deal with something that is horrible or horrifying.”

Music Program

In addition to concerns about bullying within the elementary school, the possible elimination of the music program became a major issue. Many community members, including some without ties to the school, spoke in support of the program.

“Every school I have taught in that cut art and music is a disaster. The students don’t learn, they don’t have a way to be creative and express themselves,” Frederica Marshall said. “If they don’t get [ art and music] the bullying will get worse. Grades will go down and it’s been proven over and over again.”

Marshall is a member of the Island Education Foundation in Deer Isle and said the organization has money to give and “is ready and willing to help.”

“Joy is a birth right. Music is a direct path to joy,” Lori Connor, a Deer Isle resident, said.

Despite robust support from the community and a recent $97,000 grant to expand School Union 76’s music program, the budget proposes reductions in musical education, including reduced hours for voice and instrumental instruction.

State Representative Holly Eaton said that the state's share of local education costs has diminished, resulting in $200,000 less in revenue this year. The impact of that loss is the elimination of several positions, including a general education tech and the elementary school’s assistant principal position, and reductions in programs, like music.

Sam Parker, a Gen Ed Tech at Deer Isle High School, said her position has been dissolved and she is concerned that her students' needs won’t be met.

“We work hard to make sure all needs are met,” Parker said.

Ultimately, a broad board discussion about the budget was tabled as Superintendent Tara McKechnie was not present.