RSU 68 officials start work on 2026-27 budget
SEBEC — A week into the new year, RSU 68 officials are working on developing the budget for the 2026-27 academic year.
The finance committee is scheduled to have its first meeting at 4 p.m. on Jan. 27, Superintendent Stacy Shorey said during a school board meeting on Tuesday evening at the Harland A. Ladd Municipal Building. The session will include a review of what projected numbers will look like and projections of what needs and wants will be.
“I know I say this every year but it’s going to be tough,” Shorey said. “Prices are increasing everywhere.”
Supplies for administration look to be up by 15% from last year, she said as an example.
HOP ON IN — Dot, played Paisley Libby, gets in Mrs. Kangaroo’s pouch, played by Addilyn Johnson, as SeDoMoCha Stageworks performs a scene from its production of “Dot and the Kangaroo JR.” for the RSU 68 School Board during a Tuesday evening meeting at the Harland A. Municipal Building in Sebec.
“I think we are going to have to make some tough decisions we haven’t made in some time,” the superintendent said.
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 the second Tuesday of June for final approval in the RSU 68 communities of Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Sebec.
The current year’s budget is just under $15 million.
In other business, SeDoMoCha School Principal Cameron Archer mentioned several items in his board report.
The current building enrollment is 639 students, split 367 and 272 between the elementary and middle schools.
‘DOT AND THE KANGAROO JR’ — SeDoMoCha Stageworks students perform a scene from “Dot and the Kangaroo JR.” for the school board at a Tuesday evening meeting in Sebec. The production opens at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9 at the Central Hall Commons in Dover-Foxcroft and will also performed at 2 and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10 and Jan. 17 and 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 16.
Years of Service Awards were recently presented to staff members reaching 10-, 15-, 20- and 30-year milestones working in the district, Archer explained. In the lobby are plaques listing the staff who have been working in RSU 68 for a decade or more.
“I am proud to be part of a district with so many people dedicated to our students,” Shorey said, saying 34 names are listed.
The middle school basketball teams’ regular seasons are winding down.
The A boys have a record of 2-7, but these Eagles have lost five games by five points or less. B boys are 6-3.
The A girls are a perfect 9-0 and will be the top seed for the Penquis League playoffs. B girls have a record of 6-3.
SeDoMoCha’s cheer team will be taking part in a pair of competitions, starting with the Stephanie Tardiff Memorial Cheer Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Brewer High School. For the first time in at least several years, the Eagles will be in the small school division instead of the large division, Archer said.
The Penquis League cheer championship is set for Jan. 29.
“They have been cheering at every game and they are looking forward to putting their skills and routine to the test,” Archer said.
The school board heard from Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative Director Joshua McNaughton.
McNaughton mentioned the new PVAEC flyers listing the various education and enrichment programs are set to be released the first week of February.
When asked, Dr. McNaughton said the cooperative’s new home at the Mill complex in downtown Dover-Foxcroft is working well as the PVAEC has started a 5-year lease at the site along the Piscataquis River.
The only drawback is less space compared to the Penquis Higher Education Center, so a greater emphasis has been made on scheduling.
Later in the meeting the school board voted to extend its agreement with PVAEC for an additional year through June 30, 2028.
“I think it’s the best money that we spend, they do a phenomenal job,” Shorey said.
Foxcroft Academy Assistant Head of School for Academics, Director of Residence Life Jonathan Pratt said the secondary school is talking with the Dover-Foxcroft Kiwanis Club about bringing back the Maine Maple Sunday breakfast. The event that has not happened in Dover-Foxcroft since before COVID-19 more than a half decade ago.
The breakfast would be served on the morning of Sunday, March 22 at Foxcroft Academy.
In her report, Shorey thanked the Kiwanis for its annual Christmas Project “for working really hard to make Christmas special for a lot of our families.”
This year the organization and its “adopters” provided gifts for 192 students. Area Masons provided meals for families.
In the spring RSU 68 is looking to invite area senior citizens to come in and have lunch and see some presentations on school activities.
For many of the residents their tax bill is the only connection to the schools, Board Chair Jenny Chase said.
“I really feel they need to see what they’re getting for their dollar,” she said.