SAD 41 officials working on 2026 budget

MILO — Officials in SAD 41 are developing the budget for the 2025-26 academic year, with a tentative date of May 19 being planned for the annual district budget meeting.

The school board’s finance committee has been meeting regularly, Superintendent Darcie Fournier said during the April 2 board meeting at the Penquis Valley School. The budget is being revised and refined to be brought to the directors at the next regular meeting on Wednesday, May 7.

The annual district budget meeting is planned for 6 p.m. on May 19 in the Penquis Valley School cafeteria with a 5:30 p.m. information session.

“It is tentative but it is a good target to have,” Fournier said.

The total approved at the annual district meeting would then be moved to a June referendum vote — date to be determined – in the SAD 41 communities of Brownville, LaGrange and Milo.

Last year SAD 41 voters approved an $11,283,254 budget for 2024-25, which was up $234,436 from the year prior.

In other business, Fournier said she wanted to dispel some rumors concerning planned programming at the Marion C. Cook School in LaGrange, which would be for the district’s youngest students.

“I wanted to clarify that it is not third, fourth and fifth grade programming we are talking about putting at the Marion C. Cook School, we are actually talking about a 3- to 5-year-old pre-K expansion project,” she said.

State law requires Maine school districts to offer educational services to all children ages 3-5 by September 2027.

“We have approved to take part in a cohort pilot program for this coming school year which offers us the opportunity to apply for grant funds in order to expand our programming to pay for renovations required to meet code to serve students of that age,” Fournier said.

Milo Elementary is the home of the SAD 41 pre-K program. The 60-year-old building does not have the capacity for more students or additional programs, Fournier said. 

The district is looking at renovation quotes and working with the Maine Department of Education on the grant application process.

“It is a pretty massive project but we are on our way,” Fournier said.