RSU 68 getting ready for the start of classes

DOVER-FOXCROFT — About four weeks before students return to the SeDoMoCha School on Wednesday, Aug. 30, RSU 68 officials are busy getting ready for the beginning of classes in the 2023-24 academic year. The school board learned more during a meeting in the SeDoMoCha School cafeteria on Tuesday evening.

SeDoMoCha School Principal Adam Gudroe said currently the pre-kindergarten to grade 8 campus has an enrollment of 629 students, split 343 and 286 between the elementary and middle schools respectively. 

“That’s five fewer students from where we ended the (2022-23) school year with on the middle school side and 27 fewer students on the elementary side,” Gudroe said. He said there are always late registrations for the new school year made in August so he expects both numbers to go up slightly.

“We are finalizing our schedule for the upcoming school year,” the principal said. He said grades 5-8 have a fairly common schedule so a bell/tone system could be implemented for the older students.

“The big benefit is not all of our clocks are the same,” Gudroe said. He said one class may end a bit later than another, and students end up waiting in the hallway for their peers to finish. Under next year’s schedule there would be 5-minute breaks in-between classes.

“It will allow a lot of routine and structure,” Assistant Principal Cameron Archer said.

Gudroe said unified arts — such as art, music, and physical education/health — will each be offered weekly for elementary students. Middle-schoolers will have a rotation of three weeks for each.

He said the building safety committee has been meeting to review the emergency management plan and a plan for an active threat. The principal said recommendations should be brought forward to the school board at an upcoming meeting.

Two days prior to the first day of school, an open house will be from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28.

In other business, the directors approved the job description of the RSU 68 student success coach.

Superintendent Stacy Shorey said a grant for the position fell through but it was able to be included in the 2023-24 district budget. “We figured it would be well worth it,” she said.

The job will involve working with students on overcoming barriers both in and out of the classroom, and building relationships with families.

The school board approved the hiring of Davan Walker as student success coach, for a 1-year contract at $40,000.

Shorey said Walker has a degree in social work. The 1999 Foxcroft Academy graduate currently coaches field hockey at her alma mater. 

In her report Shorey said summer campus work has included new windows in the middle school side of the building and a new garage door. She said four new doors are on backorder with just two left to be replaced once these four are installed. 

The superintendent said all staff laptops have been updated.