PRHS Last Century: A Past We Should Remember By Stephanie LaFreniere

Poland Regional High School was established in 1999 with the understanding that high schools in the surrounding area would no longer accept kids from Minot, Mechanic Falls, and Poland due to overcrowding. As a new school, PRHS was drenched in chaos during its first few years.

Parents constantly argued with the school about the quality and style of teaching or just the general way the school was run, accusing the faculty of (among other things) openly promoting homosexuality.
So, what was this like for the students? It must have been difficult to switch from a school you were in, for possibly up to three years prior, to a new school that was up to so much criticism.

One man with a unique perspective was the first senior class president at PRHS,  Derek Drumtra.

“It was a new experience for everyone trying to get an innovative school with breakthrough ideas on the map in an old-school minded community,” said Drumtra in a recent interview that we conducted through email. “Some people embraced the ideas, others fought it every step of the way.”

Drumtra leaves no doubt about his feelings for PRHS, calling his one year here  “a great experience … everyone involved learned a lot.”

I talked to Mr. Drumtra about his experience here at Poland Regional to find out how he felt the school was run and kept. I figured he’d have a lot more inside information to judge the makeup of PRHS. He sounds like he has maintained the ideology of a student, with the additional wisdom that comes with age. He spoke of nothing but good memories and how much he enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of a new school, despite all the chaos.

“In the end it was good for everyone,” Drumtra said of the daily drama. “I think we all learned something. I loved everything about that time; the newness, chaos, everything, I liked being in the middle of it all. Being the first class president was an exciting time and I relished in every moment of it. It was an experience like none other and I would do it all over again. It was worth it.”

The only negative thing Derek had to say about PRHS was the unrealistic way it addressed life and certain aspects of school. When asked if he thought PRHS prepared one for college he answered, “I would say yes and no. More on the no side, Poland gives you too many chances in life and in college you don't get that many opportunities.”

I asked him to elaborate on this and he replied, “It gives you too many chances in ‘school.’ I mean, it's not realistic in real life. If you fail a test you make up an excuse and take it again. It's not like that in college or the real world.” Drumtra knows a thing or two about the real world. He is a real estate broker, and he owns two businesses – a construction company and a boat rental company.

I share similar opinions with Derek, in the sense that there are too many chances, but I feel as though this is true in any high school, not just Poland; our teachers want us to succeed, I believe, and would do anything to help us. In college, there might not be so much leeway.

Despite the chaos of a new high school forming--fights between students, teachers, parents; all the constant conflict--Derek managed to keep a positive outlook on his high school career (and achieved the rank of class president) that appears to have carried with him throughout his life. He should be an example to all of us – not letting tough times get us stuck, and to always strive for the best we can be.

“Besides getting married, and the birth of my baby girl, being class president and being involved in everything at the beginning was one of the greatest, most fun and rewarding times of my life,” he said. “Weird to think that a senior in high school thought being in high school was fun, but it was. I loved every minute of it. It's the greatest time in your life, enjoy every minute of it and don't let it pass you by!”