HISTORY / CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

In 1999 Partners in Island Education was formed as a private, non-profit organization with the mission to provide supplemental funding to School Administrative District 8 for facilities and programs that support educational excellence in our community. SAD #8 was in the midst of planning a beautiful new school for the island community and PIE would become instrumental making possible some of the key spaces in the school.

Based on several surveys of the community, the focus of the organization became the auditorium and library needs.  The founding members set out to run a capital campaign to raise $1,878,548 to make possible a state-of-the-art theater as well as to enhance the K-12 library designed for the building and provide funds for necessary equipment.

With over 500 donors to this campaign as well as numerous successful fundraising efforts (such as the Book Plate campaign and Auditorium Seat Campaign), the capital campaign was a marked success.

Following the completion of the capital campaign, PIE chose to continue to provide funds to supplement the SAD #8 budget and to support the theater and library programs. 

Timeline for major developments in PIE:

1999 Partners in Island Education was incorporated as a Non-profit organization and identifies the library and auditorium as their focus for the new school.

2003 The new Vinalhaven School opened its doors with a beautiful new auditorium and library thanks to fundraising by PIE accounting for $1.8 million towards the construction.

2004 PIE took over responsibility for the drama position and hired Karen Burns

2005 Hired Norah Warren as the Theater Manager

2006 Started the Vinalhaven Scholarship program and awarded the first scholarship to Annie Gross.

2007 Merged with Vinalhaven School Enrichment Committee
-Hired a part time Director and VSEC coordinator, Keely Felton

2008 Island Institute Fellow Rebecca Graham works part time for PIE

-Afterschool programming added to annual budget

2009 - First Ogden Chaffey Scholarship of $500 awarded to Jenn Guptill

-Hired Jessie Grant as new Drama teacher

2011 - Hired Sarah Crossman as new director of PIE