RSU 68 budget starting to take shape

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — “The budget preparation is in full swing right now,” RSU 68 Superintendent Robert Lucy said during a Feb. 2 school board meeting.

Lucy said he and Financial Manager Teresa Scott have met individually with administrators on potential spending plan requests, and on Jan. 26 these proposals were presented to the finance committee. Lucy said a first draft of the 2016-17 budget should be ready for the next finance committee session on Feb. 23 at 6:30 p.m.

The school board could have a vote on a preliminary spending plan at its April meeting. The district budget meeting is scheduled for May 31 and the ensuing referendum in Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Sebec would be on June 14.

“The budget’s going to be tough,” Board Chair Rick Johnston said, adding state revenue sharing still needs to be finalized in Augusta. “Please attend the workshops, I really want to hear your input,” he told his fellow RSU 68 directors.

“That includes the community, this is an open meeting,” Johnston added, saying he would like to hear from the public during the development of the budget rather than at the last minute.

In other business, Lucy reported that he attended a Tri-County Technical Center (TCTC) regional council meeting several weeks prior — the first since a fire at the school on Jan. 9. “Right now they have got a situation where people are cleaning and repairing seven days a week,” he said, with insurance adjusters visiting daily.

“The perspective we got is it’s been a great effort coming together, keeping the primary focus on teaching and learning,” Lucy said. He said classes are being held elsewhere in the community, and board member Marc Poulin, who represents RSU 68 on the TCTC board, said only three days have been missed as a result of the fire.

Johnston reported that SAD 4 Chair Cindy Hoak and the school board in the neighboring Guilford-area would like to meet with their colleagues in RSU 68. “We are willing to sit down and discuss whatever is brought forth,” Johnston said, with consolidation of services one potential meeting topic.

A tentative meeting date of Feb. 24 was scheduled. Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey said this session could be held at the secondary school.

“We will be starting our advertising for summer school teachers, we will start our search for teachers after February break,” Shorey said in his report to the school board.

SeDoMoCha Middle School and Foxcroft Academy officials have developed a summer academy program for students who may need assistance to prepare for their freshman year in order to avoid a possible grade 8 retention. The academy program — the approximate $17,000-plus costs would be split between Foxcroft Academy and the school district — is being planned for July 18 to Aug. 5 with a full day of classes throughout the three weeks.

The school board also approved the appointment of Luis Ayala as the middle school wrestling coach. Ayala, who heads the wrestling program at Foxcroft Academy, has served as the wrestling coach at SeDoMoCha for well over a decade.