Voters support new Midcoast School of Technology School construction
With overwhelming support, voters in 21 Region 8 communities voted to borrow $25 million to construct a new Midcoast School of Technology facility on the school’s existing Rockland site. The final tally was 19,824 to 7,824, with all towns in favor of the measure.
The referendum read: “Shall the Cooperative Board of the Region 8 Mid-Coast School of Technology (“Region 8”) be authorized to issue bonds or notes in the name of Region 8 for a school construction project in an amount not to exceed $25,000,000 to construct and equip a new career and technical school building and related facilities to be located at 1 Main Street in the City of Rockland and as part of that project, to demolish the existing school building?”
Region 8 is part of a quasi-municipal corporate structure established by the Maine Legislature in 1973 to provide consistent public career and technical education to high school students.
In the Midcoast, six area high schools send students to, or participate with, the Rockland Region 8 campus for CTE.Those students come from Islesboro; Oceanside, in Rockland; North Haven; Vinalhaven; Medomak, in Waldoboro; and Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport.
| Shall Midcoast School of Technology issue bonds or notes for a $25 million building project | Yes | No |
| Appleton | 491 | 345 |
| Camden | 2,586 | 672 |
| Cushing | 561 | 297 |
| Friendship | 416 | 325 |
| Hope | 743 | 276 |
| Islesboro | 342 | 84 |
| Lincolnville | 1,114 | 415 |
Matinicus Plantation | 35 | 14 |
| Monhegan Island Plantation | 49 | 2 |
| North Haven | 703 | 86 |
Owls Head | 705 | 305 |
| Rockland | 2770 | 1,070 |
| Rockport | 1,611 | 685 |
St. George | 1,290 | 373 |
South Thomaston | 632 | 260 |
Thomaston | 1,015 | 421 |
Union | 848 | 500 |
Waldoboro | 1,680 | 1,064 |
| Warren | 1,375 | 735 |
| Washington | 552 | 374 |
| Vinalhaven | 568 | 193 |
| TOTAL | 17,500 | 7,824 |
The Region 8 Midcoast School of Technology board consists of representatives of Islesboro, Monhegan, North Haven, Vinalhaven, RSUs 13, 40 and 65 (Matinicus), and the Five Town CSD.
Region 8, Midcoast School of Technology
MCST’s building is a former Maine Shipbuilding facility that was acquired in 1975 following a public vote in regional towns approving the creation of Region 8 Vocational School.
That was when the state of Maine created its vocational schools, which are now referred to as Career and Technical Education centers (CTEs).
There are 27 CTEs in Maine with the purpose of providing technical skills that prepare students “for post-secondary education and entry into an ever-changing workplace and society and meet the rigorous academic standards of Maine's Learning Results,” according to the Maine Administrators of Career and Technical Education, the nonprofit that ties together the schools in Maine.
There are approximately 7,800 Maine students taking CTE classes in regions and centers. Taxpayers fund their respective portions of supporting MSCT through their annual education spending approved at June town meeting.
Other CTE funding derives from state education funding and federal grants.
In the Midcoast, six area high schools send students to, or participate with, the Rockland Region 8 campus for CTE.
Those students come from Islesboro; Oceanside, in Rockland; North Haven; Vinalhaven; Medomak, in Waldoboro; and Camden Hills Regional High School in Rockport.
In 1975, the taxpayers approved spending $1.5 million to acquire the Rockport shipbuilding facility and renovate it for a vocational school.
Classes now include auto tech, auto collision, CNA medical science, design and marine technology, carpentry, small engine, welding, machine shop, hospital culinary, engineering, firefighting and emergency medical technician.
The Region 8 Midcoast School of Technology board consists of representatives of Islesboro, Monhegan, North Haven, Vinalhaven, RSUs 13, 40 and 65 (Matinicus), and the Five Town CSD.
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