RSU 68 officials to start work on 2025-26 budget
DOVER-FOXCROFT — With the calendar year nearly over, RSU 68 officials will soon begin work on developing the budget for the 2025-26 academic year.
During a school board meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the SeDoMoCha School, Superintendent Stacy Shorey said the finance committee is scheduled to have its first meeting on Jan. 28. She said the directors had a budget schedule in their meeting packets.
In years past the finance committee has worked to bring a proposed budget to the full school board at its April meeting, with a vote by the directors coming in May. Later that month would be the annual district budget meeting, with the total spending plan approved then moved to a referendum in June for final approval.
Via a combined count of 941-313 across Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson, and Sebec at the June referendum, RSU 68 residents approved a 2024-25 budget totaling $14,238,768. This $14.2 million figure was up by $855,004 or 6.5 percent from the 2023-24 total of $13,383,764.
The $14.2 million was made up of $7,878,889 from the state — a $427,406 increase — and $6,359,879 in various local revenue sources. This included a $4,033,235 local contribution and another $717,481 in local additional monies (those above what the state requires and approved via a specific warrant article). The local contribution was up by $79,640 while the local additional amount was $70,000 more.
In other business, SeDoMoCha School Principal Cameron Archer gave an update on several events.
He said the first math meet had 45 students take part, which the principal believes is the largest Eagle contingent in quite some time. “They came back with really nice results as well,” Archer said.
Late last month author/illustrator Jan Brett’s “Alice in a Winter Wonderland” tour came to the Center Theatre. Archer said the school held a coloring contest to tie into Brett’s visit to the community, with a winner being chosen from K-4 and another from grades 5-8.
Archer said 50 SeDoMoCha families received Thanksgiving meals and he thanked the businesses that provided the food items.
Middle school winter sports are underway with the Eagles having boys and girls A and B basketball teams and a cheer squad for the 2024-25 season. Archer said about 25 students are cheering.
He said wrestling will begin in early February and after the February vacation unified basketball will start.
SeDoMoCha Assistant Principal Davan Walker said at last month’s Student in the Spotlight assembly nine attendance award winners were recognized. She said each received a pair of University of Maine basketball tickets, which were also awarded to the Jan Brett coloring contest honorees. About 100 tickets were donated to the school.