By Matthew Williams. Democrat Staff Writer. Wednesday, March 15, 2000
PORTSMOUTH — There were thanks and congratulations for School Board members at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The high school students and chaperones who recently traveled to Cuba presented an array of souvenirs to the board as a way of thanking members for allowing them to take the trip.
Vice Principal Robert Lister, who served as a chaperone, also recognized Brian DeKoning, a former staff writer for Foster’s Daily Democrat. DeKoning detailed the trip with daily stories printed in the newspaper and was presented with a certificate of appreciation from board Chairman Kent
LaPage at the meeting.
Latin teacher Joe Arnstein led 19 students to Cuba for the weeklong trip beginning Feb. 19. The trip was designed to give students a historical and cultural perspective on the Communist island nation.
Lister’s wife, Cynthia, and high school social studies teacher Shannon Fernald also acted as chaperones on the trip.
After initially supporting the trip in October, the School Board reviewed its decision twice. The first review was conducted because of concerns that the students’ insurance coverage would not be adequate. The second review was called due to political tension between Cuba and the United
States, involving Elian Gonzalez, the 6-year-old boy rescued off the coast of Florida. His mother and others were attempting to flee Cuba and drowned on the journey. A custody battle is now under way between the boy’s natural father, who is in Cuba, and his American relatives in Miami, where
Elian is now staying.
"We are very, very proud of the students that went on this trip," said Arnstein. "Yes, the Caribbean is a beautiful place, but I have to say the high point was the students that went along with us."
After the students gave a brief synopsis of the research projects completed for the trip, Arnstein presented the board with a T-shirt with a picture of Elian. Written on the shirt in Spanish was "Save Elian." The students also presented the board with a Cuban flag, a Cuban license
plate, a badge from a Cuban vocational school and a copy of Ernest Hemingway’s "The Old Man and the Sea" signed by 103-year-old Gregorio Fuentes, the model for Hemingway’s hero, Santiago, in the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
"It was as moving of an experience I’ve ever had," Arnstein commented of the visit with Fuentes.
The board also congratulated fellow member The Rev. Arthur Hilson on his recent appointment to the New Hampshire Human Rights Commission following a nomination by Gov. Jeanne Shaheen. His term will expire in November 2004.
Hilson said he was honored by nomination and said he had "no preconceived notions" as he began the work, although he said he thought it should be another "exciting endeavor."
Assistant Superintendent Chuck Ott was also congratulated by LaPage for his recent appointment as superintendent of School Administrative Unit 56, which includes children from the towns of Somersworth and Rollinsford.
© 2000 Geo. J. Foster Co. |