RSU 68 officials readying for the start of classes

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Just over three weeks before the start of classes on Wednesday, Aug. 28, the RSU 68 School Board learned how district administrators are preparing for the new school year during a board meeting at the SeDoMoCha School on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

“Most schedules are ready to go,” Principal Cameron Archer said. He said schedules will be similar to the 2023-24 academic year and would be shared with staff the following day.

Archer said Assistant Principal Davan Walker has been working on “relationship mapping” in which all students will be matched with a staff member they will get to know and be able to speak with about any topic on their mind. He said increasing attendance will be another goal to be worked on this year.

The principal said an open house will be from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26 for students and families to come in before the first day of school.

Archer reported 87 middle school students have signed up for fall sports, and he anticipates the number to approach 100 once classes begin. This number is consistent with previous years.

Practices for the Eagle field hockey, football, and soccer teams begin on Monday, Aug. 19. Cross country and golf will start when classes resume. 

“I’m very excited to get going and engage and connect with students and families,” Walker said, saying her big goals include attendance and relationship mapping.

“I’m hoping to do positive office referrals, so I’m calling home about good things,” Walker said about a new initiative.

Archer and Walker are both in new positions this academic year. Archer had previously been the assistant principal. Last year’s Principal Adam Gudroe is now the assistant principal/athletic director at Dexter Regional High School. Gudroe had spent six years as SeDoMoCha principal. Davan Walker is assistant principal after having served as student success coach. Former Grade 2 teacher Cecilia Dube transferred to the student success coach position.

In other business, the school approved the RSU 68 library curriculum.

Librarian Carolyn Clark said she has a great job and has received a great deal of support from administration, and mentioned the schedule of varying grade levels coming into the library. “I really want to have books that kids want to read,” she said about library offerings including Maine State Book Award and Chickadee Award titles.

Clark said she works with the middle-schoolers on how to conduct topic research using the resources available in the library.

She said she would like to bring in guest speakers on topics such as ATV safety and soil conservation as well as utilizing the nature trail and school garden.

Superintendent Stacy Shorey mentioned the idea of a performing arts building and she was given the go-ahead by the school board to pursue what such a structure might look like and all the accompanying logistics.

Shorey said by next month’s board meeting she hopes to have estimates pertaining to an HVAC system upgrade that could be funded in large part through the Maine Department of Education’s Revolving Renovation Fund.

Under the program, 70 percent of costs are forgiven and districts pay back the other 30 percent interest-free over 10 years. 

Neighboring SAD 41 of Milo used the program several years ago for air system upgrades at Milo and Brownville elementary schools. The $935,000 project had a $670,000/$280,000 split with SAD 41 paying back $28,000 annually over a decade

In 2017 SAD 41 residents approved an approximate $474,000 Revolving Renovation Fund loan for a sprinkler system and elevator at the Penquis Valley School.