Longfellow School hangs by a thread have organized the forum to gather by Nancy Richards public reaction to the schoo committee's position tha CRANBERRY ISLES- Longfellow School remain ope Whether the Longfellow School on during the 1997-1998 school year. Great Cranberry Island can remain This year, there are only tv open will be the subject of a public students, Keith and Heath Wed forum set for tonight, Nov. 14 at attending the Longfellow Sch the school. The forum is scheduled with teacher Marilyn Wheeler. I to begin at 6:30 p.m. year there were 13 studen The Cranberry Isles School according to October 1995 figure Committee and town selectmen see SCHOOL page SCHOOL from page A1 Several families with children instead they are pulling the rug out better peer group opportunities in a "There may not be enough have moved off the island for from under those that remain." larger school," said Ms. Cox. "But incentive [in terms of jobs] to try to various reasons. Two other School Union 98 director of students have graduated for years out work out the problem," said Mrs. children, Amy Russell and Josh curriculum and instruction Judith of these [island] schools and have Spurling. Bunker, are attending the Islesford Cox said it is the nature of island been just fine." The Beal and Bunker mailboat will School on Little Cranberry Island. schools to have years in which Economics may be a factor as provide ferry service to and from the The Islesford School currently there are severe dips in enrollment. well. The prime industries on Great forum. The boat will leave Northeast has an enrollment of 22, with "We don't want to lose Cranberry are boat building and Harbor at 5:30 p.m., and will return teachers Susan Diamond and Terri perspective," she said. "There are a carpentry. Islesford's main industry after the end of the meeting, which is Wysocki. Last year. 14 students lot of different factors [influencing is lobstering. anticipated to last an hour. were enrolled at this school. the enrollment].' Only about 40 people live on One factor is that parents Great Cranberry in the winter. sometimes pull students out to attend "People are worried about the schools with larger enrollments so the community." said Islesford resident children can adjust socially before Jeri Spurling. "When the school goes. entering the regional high school. the community goes - we have seen Sometimes a family that has children it happen time and time again." in high school will choose to move After World War II, more than 200 off the island taking younger children islands off the coast of Maine were along. "Some feel that kids will have inhabited, she said. Today. only 14 year-round island communities remain. "Some people are no longer using the service [the public school]. so they are not supporting it," said Mrs. Spurling. "In a small place like this, you need every