December 19, 2025

To:  RSU #74 Board of Directors

From:  Mark Campbell, Superintendent of Schools

Re:  Board Report for January 7, 2026

As I type 2026 for the first time, I am left wondering where did 2025 go?  But as I shared in my monthly letter to the residents, this Board accomplished a number of tasks in 2025 that has put us in a position to move the district forward in a direction that will assure our students have many opportunities to grow academically and socially.  As well, with our plans around transportation and proper building maintenance, the vision we have established will allow us to accomplish our objectives while maintaining a budget without huge fiscal swings.  Despite our efforts to plan, there are factors we cannot always predict such as the influx of students with a need for or already have Individual Educational Plans.  The increase is not only putting a stress on our current staffing but our external resources for educational placements are also being stretched.  

I am working with Chris Roux to see what spaces are available for us to utilize before we explore the idea of opening our own day treatment/behavioral support program.  Chris and I attended a Selectperson meeting in Embden to explore whether the Embden Community Center might be a possible solution.  The answer was not an outright no, so I will be sending a formal request for a quote to lease classrooms and the gymnasium  There are other structures within district boundaries we will also be assessing whether it would be an appropriate solution and not cost prohibitive. 

By the time you read this, budget numbers for all departments/schools are due.  It is earlier this year.  I made the request so that there is time to verify that glitches do not exist in the budget spreadsheets created this summer/fall by Scott Hall.  In the past, each department/school submitted spreadsheets and paper copies of their budgets to my office.  Once in the office, Linda entered the numbers into a spreadsheet form that created the district budget.  The process not only introduced potential for clerical errors but also if decisions were made after the due date, failure to communicate the changes to Linda also potentially introduced inaccurate numbers.  The sheets created by Scott are doing all the necessary compilations so each budget line from each of the cost centers land in the correct line for determining the district budget line.  If a department head/principal makes a change, the change automatically is updated at the district level.

Committee Meetings:

Because of the weather on December 10, the only sub-Committee meeting (Policy) of the RSU 74 Board scheduled for the month was canceled.

The Library and Technology sub-committee will not be meeting on Wednesday, January 7.  After speaking with Troy on the fact that the only purpose for the meeting has been to review their budgets, I am confident that these budgets reflect the needs of the two areas and the review can be a part of our budget meeting in March versus a separate meeting.  I have an understanding there have been concerns well before my coming on with one of these two areas.  I think a meeting to discuss the purpose or desires of the committee members may be beneficial before we bring in the department heads to begin again.  I look forward to the input from committee members on this idea of reflecting on our purpose/needs/desires.

The Agenda is as follows

Presentation:

We will have a brief presentation by Deputy Mike Pike on the role of a School Resource Officer.  Deputy Pike currently serves as the SRO for MSAD 59.  

Appointments: - Jim Davis - High School baseball coach.  A committee of varsity coaches and the AD have interviewed candidates for this position and recommend Mr. Davis to be the next varsity baseball coach for CHS.  He has been a volunteer assistant coach in the past for us.

Resignations: 

Paige Giroux as an Education Technician.  Paige had recently transferred to Title I.  We wish to thank Paige for her service over the past few years supporting students.

Nominations:

 You will see a lengthy list of candidates we are requesting a Board vote of approval on to fill vacant positions of educational technicians in both regular and special education.  We listed the advertisement on Indeed and had much greater success in getting applicants (20) for these positions.  While all of these are changing career fields, most are coming from the medical field greatly due to the changes in the health field and closure of the Inland Hospital and associated medical offices.  All come with positive recommendations on abilities to work with people (mostly adults) and excellent soft skills.  When I asked why the change in career fields, most responses focused on the satisfaction of being able to help others and a strong desire to work with little ones.  Two of these candidates have been subbing for us throughout the year.  

Action Items:

Item 6 - This is our second reading for these two policies.  There has been no changes to these  policies since your first reading vote in December.

Item 7 - The Board needs to vote to exempt us from this specific food program.  Because we are higher than the State threshold for free-reduced lunch percentages we are required to have after the bell breakfast.  This program would have additional costs associated with it.  Costs that may outweigh the impact the programs would have for our students.  One is the Alternate Breakfast program for after classes begin.  The K-5 grade staff finds that the time to offer this because of the additional support needed for their age groups would take away from learning time.  Regardless of the building they are in, all students have access to breakfast upon arrival even if someone comes in late we offer to feed them.  Besides the before school breakfast, students K-5 have a snack/milk break built into their morning.  If we are to offer the alternate after bell breakfast, the need to have additional cook staff would need to be considered as the outlying schools have one cook each and this program would be during the time our current staff is preparing lunch.

Item 8 - As shared at the December meeting, we will need to discuss negotiations with the teachers in an executive session as the sub-committee for the Board makes final preparations for negotiation sessions with the CEA.  As well, I would like to discuss a proposal for administrative assistants pay scale, length of work year, benefits.

Item 9 - This session will allow me to update you on a pending legal matter.