Brownville school board member steps down

MILO — The resignation of one of Brownville’s representatives to the SAD 41 Board of Directors was accepted during a school board meeting at the Penquis Valley School on Oct. 15.

Board Chair Mary Lynn Kazyaka said board member Leon Farrar’s daughter wrote a letter on her father’s behalf saying he was resigning due to health reasons as of the end of September.

“We wish him well and really thank him for his service, he served on the board twice,” Kazyaka said.

Farrar was one of three Brownville representatives and his term ran through 2027.

Brownville’s select board can now appoint a resident to fill the seat, who will be in the position until the annual town meeting in March when they or someone else will be elected.

Last month Amanda Fernald, one of Milo’s directors, submitted her resignation, citing other commitments as her reason for stepping down as of Sept. 12.

In March Fernald was elected to a 1-year term through March of 2026.

In other business, Brownville Elementary Principal Joshua Bessey said he has spoken with the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office about having someone from the department come up for weekly lunches with students.

Sheriff Bob Young had lunch one day, but was unable to attend the next week. Bessey said it is great to have the interaction between the students and law enforcement. 

Kazyaka said Penquis Valley Homecoming went very well.

“Everyone was on the streets, everyone was at the games,” she said about the Friday night parade and soccer games.

Kazyaka said the Penquis Valley High School Key Club held a successful Hue on You 5K Run/Walk.

“Lots of people were out there having a good time,” she said.

The board chair also recognized the late Heidi Finson, who passed away in mid-September.

For 38 years Finson taught preschool, first at Head Start in Derby and most recently at Milo Elementary. She gave hundreds of students their first taste of school, Kazyaka said.

Kazyaka said in her Polish family a Cardinal appearing carries a symbolic message. While volunteering at the Marion C. Cook School recently, Kazyaka looked out the window while the young students were resting and she was thinking about Finson.

“Down comes this big fat red cardinal right on the branch outside the window,” she said.