RSU 68 looking at $15 million-plus budget

DOVER-FOXCROFT — RSU 68 officials have been working on the 2026-27 budget and the proposed spending plan for the next year totals $15,247,396. This represents a $251,877 increase from the current $14,995,969.

The RSU 68 budget is developed with a pair of guiding principles, Superintendent Stacy Shorey said during an April 7 school board meeting at the SeDoMoCh School. The directors are committed to making transparent, student-centered budget decisions that are best for the pupils and are fiscally responsible and the board is also committed to decisions that reflect the district mission statement.

Local taxes would see a 4.79% increase, breaking down to 6.5% for Sebec, 6.22% for Charleston, 4.79% for Dover-Foxcroft and 1.4% for Monson.

In the current academic year the district received $8.3 million-plus from the state to go toward a total budget of $14,995,969. Local contributions for the four RSU 68 communities are determined by the Maine Department of Education in order for the district to receive its state funding. Local additional monies requested are set by RSU 68 officials.

The state is asking for $239,766 more in local required monies and the district will seek an $70,000 increase in local additional funds from the four towns. Last year’s assessment total was just over $5 million.

In years past the finance committee has worked to bring a proposed budget to the full school board at the April meeting, with a vote by the directors coming in May. Late in month is 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 Charleston, Dover-Foxcroft, Monson and Sebec.

In other business, Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey introduced seniors Emma Alden and Landon Smith who both shared portions of their portfolios. The portfolios are a graduation requirement with grade 12 students addressing the Foxcroft Academy mission statement by identifying what they learned and how this will help them be successful after high school.

“They come in as ninth graders and they grow so much in four years,” Shorey said.

Alden mentioned moving to the region from Windham prior to high school. The school’s 2026 MPA Principal’s Award recipient, Alden served as captain of both the fall and winter cheer teams during her junior and senior years. She held leadership positions, including Student Council president, co-president of the National Honor Society and Key Club secretary. She is a member of the Spanish Club, Global Ambassadors and Select Choir.

“I love to get involved, if there’s anything to sign up for I sign up for it,” Alden said.

She will be attending the University of New England in Biddeford to study medical biology on the way to becoming a surgeon. Alden got to learn about the medical field in the Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center Student Volunteer Program, serving as student manager in her second summer.

Alden had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Avian Chang and his work with trauma surgery.

“I got a lot of good insight from him,” Alden said, saying she will need to think about what type of surgery to pursue as she progresses through her studies.

“Life after high school seems like it will be a lot easier because of the stepping stones I’ve taken,” Alden said.

Smith told the school board how he grew up in the area, with his older brother and parents all graduating from Foxcroft Academy. Smith was a 3-sport athlete for the Ponies and he said sports and vehicles are two big hobbies.

In his freshman year Smith constructed a birdhouse using his own blueprints and plan and this helped lead him to working on bigger projects and pursue a career in carpentry. 

Smith’s father has been working in this field for 35 years and the younger Smith was told the rewarding aspects are “seeing what you built and a sense of pride in what you built.”

Smith plans to enter the workforce after graduation and he looks to stay in the area and raise a family.

SeDoMoCha Principal Cameron Archer thanked the teachers for their work with the monthly Student in the Spotlight assemblies. Each month a student is chosen from each grade level for demonstrating a specific Habits of the Mind.

The honorees are recognized during an all-school assembly. Archer said it can be difficult to keep 635 students quiet for half an hour in the gym.

“It’s really just a great event that we have each month here,” he said.

The annual science fair is planned for Tuesday, April 28 and eighth graders have been working on their projects for months, Archer said.

Stacy Shorey mentioned being amazed by what she saw of the students’ work being done in grade 8 science teacher Jonathan Dumont’s class. 

“If you have an opportunity to come to the science fair, please do so,” she said.

The winter athletics season has concluded with wrestling and unified basketball wrapping up recently. 

All seven unified basketball games were played and Archer believes the 21 participants is the most the middle school has ever had.

As a member of the Pine Tree League for the first time this season, the Eagle wrestling squad took part in two championship competitions. Three from SeDoMoCha recorded top four finishes at the final match.

Ninety athletes are taking part in spring athletics, between A and B baseball and A and B softball and track and field.