RSU 68 officials working on 2025-26 budget

DOVER-FOXCROFT — RSU 68 officials are well into the work on developing the budget for the 2025-26 academic year.

“As of today we have now balanced revenues and expenditures,” Superintendent Stacy Shorey said during a school board meeting on Tuesday, March 4, at the SeDoMoCha School. She said the numbers that make up revenues and expenditures should change moving forward.

As budget work continues there will likely be positions cut, Shorey said. She said this does not necessarily mean jobs will be lost, just some positions will be unfilled.

The superintendent said the district is awaiting heating cost projections. A.E. Robinson Oil Company is awaiting news on tariffs before committing to any contracted prices with RSU 68, she said.

“I’m anticipating an increase, which was not built into the budget,” Shorey said.

The district is also awaiting figures pertaining to electricity costs, she said. There are bills in Augusta on eliminating some solar credits and whether these pass would impact what RSU 68 pays. Health insurance costs are still to be determined.

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.

RSU 68 residents approved a 2024-25 budget totaling $14,238,768 by a combined count of 941-313 across Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson, and Sebec at the June 2024 referendum. That 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 by a specific warrant article). The local contribution was up by $79,640 while the local additional amount was $70,000 more.

At the June referendum residents will also likely be voting on funding for an HVAC system at the central office at 572 Bangor Road. RSU 68 has been approved for a grant from the Maine Department of Education’s Revolving Renovation Fund.

The project would go out to bid the following week and submissions would be opened at the end of the month, Shorey said. The district would tentatively accept the winning bid, with the understanding there is still a June vote.

“Once that’s accepted the plan would be to start at the end of the school year so it’s all ready for next year,” she said.

Based on the amount of state funding RSU 68 receives, the state could cover 67 percent of costs and the district would pay back the other 33 percent interest-free over 10 years.

Neighboring SAD 41 of Milo used the Revolving Renovation Fund 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.

The performing arts committee is looking to have an arts center attached to the SeDoMoCha building, Shorey said. The committee is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 10, to work on a vision statement and grants.

In other business, SeDoMoCha School Principal Cameron Archer mentioned several items in his report.

Archer said the annual Pi Day will return on Friday, March 14.

“It is one of the more entertaining and fun assemblies we have here at SeDoMoCha,” he said.

Students compete to see who can recite the most digits of pi, with grade-level winners being able to throw a pie at a selected teacher’s face while their fellow students cheer them on. Some past reciters have gotten into the triple digits. 

The middle school wrestling and unified basketball seasons are underway, Archer added. He said spring sports sign-ups went out the day prior.

The jazz band won a gold rating at the recent District V Music Festival in Newport, Assistant Principal Davan Walker said. The middle school ensemble will now compete at the state competition March 22 in Waterville.

The jazz band also had the opportunity to perform the national anthem at an ice hockey tournament at the Piscataquis County Ice Arena, Walker said.

Fifteen high school students from across the area will have the opportunity this summer to take part in the Maine Construction Academy, a construction immersion program presented by Maine’s Associated General Contractors of America, Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey said.

The four-week course in July will enable students to learn about construction trades as well as financial literacy and life skills, receive an OSHA 10 certificate and first aid/CPR certification, and be able to keep a tool kit. Participants will travel to three job sites for hands-on learning.

“It’s just a great way to explore a career pathway,” Shorey said. The program is privately funded, with the companies doing so to potentially recruit young workers. 

The Maine Construction Academy would be advertised in the spring with participants signing up on a first come, first serve basis, he said.