March 25, 2025
To: RSU #74 Board of Directors
From: Mark Campbell
Re: April Board Report
I am looking forward to this Thursday, March 27 and seeing our district represented by three groups of students at the annual Kennebec Valley Superintendent’s Association Showcase of Great Things Happening in our Schools. This is the first year our school will be sending staff and students to present excellence in our academia. We will have grade 3 from Anson under the supervision of Jasmyn Wagg showcasing their studies with catapult designs. As well, we will have 7th graders showcasing their studies on developing cars to minimize the air resistance under the supervision of their teacher, Craig Campbell. We also will have a group of freshmen highlighting their studies using the Pasco equipment purchased to support Aaron Baum’s Physical Science class. I am confident that I or members of the Board who take me up on my invitation to attend, can provide additional details of the event at the meeting next week. I am, with the assistance from Winthrop High School’s Multimedia design class, having a video created presenting the Showcase highlighting our three groups.
At the March Budget Workshop, I was asked 3 questions I did not have answers to right then. While I did share my findings in an email as I stated I would, I understand email is not always the best way for some to gather information so I will restate the questions and my findings:
Does MSAD 54 Adult-Ed charge our residents an out-of-district fee? The answer was yes when the current director took over. He quickly modified that practice and for the last few years, every participant pays the exact same course fee if there is one. The fees everyone pays support the purchase of consumables used for the course/activity.
What is the latest date for the Board to approve a budget for 2025-2026 to keep us in alignment with the mandated deadlines for posting of our warrant. The meeting in late April to sign the Warrants was dictated by the date chosen for the District Budget Meeting. In order to have the warrants prepared for the April 30 meeting, the district’s law firms will need time to prepare the warrant once the vote has been taken (roughly 2 weeks). I shared the date of April 9th as the latest we should vote on the budget. As I write this, we are still hoping for a settlement in negotiations with Support Staff and for final numbers for health insurance premiums.
The third question was around costs associated with financing $170,000 to install enhanced electronic safety features for all schools including updated camera systems and swipe entry systems for each building. One of the lending institutions we seek bids from was gracious with their time to share that regardless of a 3 or 5 year lease, we are looking at 5.25% for interest. Interest paid over 5 versus 3 is substantial at $18,200 vs $9,127. I will be recommending a 3 year lease for the interest factor plus the factor that technology older than 3 years tends to be outdated.
Sub-committee meetings:
The Policy Committee reviewed 5 policies this month and will be sending two of these policies for full Board review after minor changes. Policy IKE - Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration of Students, the committee agreed that the wording associated with students in high school prior to 2014-2015 needed to be removed as it was no longer pertinent. The committee also struck wording associated with proficiency based diplomas as that legislation was repealed. Policy ILA Student Assessment also had minor wordsmithing done to indicate the desire for local and State assessments be used to measure a student’s level of understanding and ability to apply standards as outlined in each content area of the Maine Learning Results. As well, this committee is sending forth a recommendation to eliminate a form that they felt was outdated and unnecessary as Policy IKE Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration of Students outlines the steps. Policies IJNB Student Computer and Internet Use and Internet Safety, Policy ILD Student Submission to Survey, Analyses or Evaluation, and Policy IMBB Exemption from Required Instruction were reviewed and remain unchanged.
The Finance Committee reviewed the draft of the 2025-2026 budget. From that meeting, the out-of-district tuition for students with IEPs beyond the services we can provide was decreased by $100,000. An additional Educational Technician was transferred to Local Entitlement funds. And at that meeting the Finance committee agreed with the Buildings and Grounds committee to remove monies associated with a storage building at the high school complex. The last major request was to remove the $500,000 for security upgrades to all buildings.
Agenda:
Appointments - None
Resignations - Jami Oakes - Ed-Tech at CCS. Wish to thank her for the time she spent supporting our students and wish her well in future endeavors.
Appointments: None
Action Items:
Item 6: Other than grammatical changes, the policies approved in March for a first reading are now ready for a second reading vote.
Item 7: The Policy committee made changes to Policy ILA that defines student proficiency as a measurement of the level of understanding and ability to apply the Maine Learning Results standards.
Item 8 - The wording for this eliminates connection with proficiency based grading and indicates that it is the responsibility of awarding credits from a sending high school to the principal in collaboration with the guidance counselor.
Item 9 - Karen Pease has requested approval for a field trip to Moosehead for the 8th graders. Karen wrote a grant and now that she has been funded she is asking to take the 8th graders to Moosehead on an overnight trip. Once in Greenville, they will set up camp on land owned by Mr. and Mrs. Pease before heading to the downtown landing where they will Board the Katahdin Princess for a cruise on Moosehead. After the cruise they will tour the Moosehead Marine Museum. As the Peases’ prepare a good hearty meal, the students will have the opportunity to participate in a number of outdoor games. To cap the evening, students will be able to enjoy each other's company and swap stories around the campfire. The following day is intended for the group to hike Mt. Kineo. Students and staff will be returning back to CCS by 4 p.m. on the 29th.
Item 10 - As shared earlier, at the writing of this letter, we are awaiting the results of the negotiations with support staff as well as final percentage increase for health insurance premiums for 2025-2026 to finalize the budget for your review.