Amistad America's contract with Ocean Classroom Foundation of Maine to expire
Amistad America announced Tuesday that its contract with the soon-to-be-defunct Ocean Classroom Foundation of Maine will expire Aug. 31, at which point it will resume independent management of the schooner.
Since November 2012, Amistad America has paid Ocean Classroom Foundation $5,000 a month to help manage the ship.
"This model provided Amistad with crewing efficiency, economies of scale and marine operations expertise," Amistad America Executive Director Hanifa Washington said in a statement Tuesday.
She added the contract "has been overwhelmingly successful and we at Amistad America are saddened by OCF's 20 years of programming coming to an end."
Washington said that in June, Amistad America and Ocean Classroom Foundation extended their cooperative service contract until Aug. 31.
Ocean Classroom Foundation, which is headed by former Amistad America Executive Director Greg Belanger, said last week that it is ceasing operations after 20 years because it can longer afford to fix its three ships and pay off a $2.2 million mortgage.
Meanwhile, state officials have said they expect a state audit of how financially troubled Amistad America spent $8 million in state funds to be completed within days.
- Joe Wojtas
Stories that may interest you
In retirement, forensics expert's business is booming
Jim Streeter, town historian, former town mayor and retired state police forensics examiner, has spent the last decade in private practice, examining thousands of “questioned” documents and hundreds of crime-scene impressions.
Stonington school officials say reports of Chokas touching not complaints
High School Principal Mark Friese and Superintendent of Schools Van Riley have testified under oath that they instead categorized them as “concerns” expressed by students and others, which meant they did not go in Chokas' personnel file.
New Mystic boathouse design well-received at public meeting
Sketches for the new design for the boathouse, a New England-style structure with a cupola, much different from the earlier, more industrial designs that were less favorably received.
Southeastern Connecticut marks 78th anniversary of Pearl Harbor attack
Veterans and members of the Naval Submarine School at the Naval Submarine Base in Groton were among those who gathered Saturday in Norwich to mark the 78th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
READER COMMENTS