Easton Community School Officially Opens, Celebrating a New Chapter for Children, Families and Community Growth

Ribbon Cutting Marks Opening of Maine’s Second Comprehensive Community School and Expansion of Early Care and Education Opportunities in Aroostook County

Community leaders, educators, families, elected officials, and regional partners gathered Friday afternoon to celebrate the official opening and ribbon cutting of the Easton Community School, marking a significant milestone for children, families, and the future of the Easton community.

The celebration marked the realization of a vision first discussed between Easton municipal leaders and Avec Community Action in the fall of 2024. In less than two years, that vision evolved into a collaborative effort resulting in Maine’s second Comprehensive Community School, bringing together education, early care and education services, family supports, and community partnerships in a single location designed to better serve children and families.

Hosted at the Easton Community School campus, the event featured remarks from community leaders, educators, childcare professionals, and families who helped shape the project, followed by an official ribbon cutting conducted in partnership with the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce and tours of the new facility.

The program opened with reflections on the partnership that brought the project from concept to reality and the opportunities it will create for children, families, and the broader community.

“Today’s celebration demonstrates what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision. This project reflects a commitment to supporting children, strengthening families, and ensuring Easton remains a place where people want to live, work, and raise their families,” said Richard Lyons, Superintendent of Schools.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers highlighted how the Easton Community School emerged from a shared commitment among the Town of Easton, Easton School Department, Avec Community Action, and numerous community partners to address local needs while strengthening opportunities for families and supporting the community’s long-term success.

“This facility represents an investment in children, families, workforce development, and the long-term vitality of our community,” said Cheryl Clark, Easton Town Manager.

A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was the power of the Comprehensive Community School model and the belief that educational success is strengthened when schools, families, and community services work together in a coordinated and accessible way.

“Easton has embraced a model that recognizes children and families do not experience education, childcare, health, and community life separately. Bringing those supports together creates stronger outcomes for children and stronger communities for everyone,” said Jenna Lombard, Principal of Easton Elementary School.

For Avec Community Action and its partners, the opening represents both an investment in high-quality early care and education and a broader commitment to supporting families while strengthening workforce participation and community well-being.

“For many rural communities, access to childcare remains one of the most significant barriers facing families and employers alike. The Easton Community School demonstrates what is possible when local leadership, education, community action, and families work together to create a solution,” said Jason Parent, Chief Executive Officer of Avec Community Action.

Beyond early learning opportunities, families enrolled in the Easton Community School’s early care and education programs will have access to the broad range of supportive services available through Avec Community Action’s nationally recognized Whole Family Approach and Family Coaching Model. Through individualized coaching, goal setting, resource navigation, and coordinated supports, families can access services designed to strengthen family stability, advance economic mobility, and help parents and caregivers achieve their personal and professional goals.

“What makes this model unique is that it recognizes children succeed when families succeed,” said Parent. “Through our Whole Family Approach, we’re able to support parents and caregivers in pursuing their own goals while ensuring children have access to high-quality early learning experiences. The result is stronger outcomes not just for individual children, but for entire families.”

The center will provide comprehensive early care and education opportunities while connecting families with additional resources designed to promote healthy child development, family engagement, school readiness, and long-term family well-being.

“High-quality early care and education is one of the most important investments we can make in a child’s future. The services offered here will support early learning, family engagement, school readiness, and healthy child development while helping families access resources and supports they need to achieve their goals,” said Megan Barnes, Chief Program Officer for Avec Community Action.

The importance of expanding access to quality childcare and strengthening the early childhood system across rural Maine was also emphasized during the celebration.

“The opening of this center represents an important step forward for Easton-area families. When communities invest in children and make childcare more accessible, everyone benefits, including parents, employers, schools, and the community as a whole,” said Maeghan Swanson, Director of the Aroostook County Childcare Resource Center and Avec Community Action Program Manager.

One of the most meaningful moments of the ceremony came when Kara Flewelling and her daughter, Gweneth Flewelling, shared their perspective on what the facility will mean for local families before participating in the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Following the formal program, attendees joined representatives of the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, project partners, community leaders, elected officials, staff, and families outside the childcare entrance for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Guests then toured the facility and learned more about the educational opportunities, early childhood programs, family support services, and community partnerships available through the Easton Community School.

The opening represents an important accomplishment for a partnership that moved from concept to reality in a relatively short period of time, creating a model that community leaders believe will benefit Easton families for generations to come.

“This facility represents an investment not only in today’s children, but in Easton’s future. The impact of this project will be measured not by the building itself, but by the opportunities it creates for families and the success of the children who walk through its doors,” said Parent.