Minutes of the Special Board Meeting
of
RSU #74 Board of Directors
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
6:00 p.m.
At
Carrabec High School
Troy Dunphy, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
Directors Present: Troy Dunphy, Judi Dunphy, Nicole Richardson, Pamela Mitchell, Eric Ewing, Kevin Sousa, Dallas Landry, Brenda Stevens, and Laura Layman.
Directors absent with notification: Georgiana Manzer, Grace Carriero, Robert Lightbody, Robert Lindblom, and Keith Plourd
Directors Absent without notification: None
Staff Members Present: 14
Students Present: 0
Citizens Present: 8
Article 1A: To elect a Moderator to preside at the meeting
Upon motion by Kevin Sousa and seconded by Brenda Stevens, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to elect Ernie Hilton as Moderator. Motion passed.
Superintendent Mark Campbell administered the Oath of Office to Ernie Hilton.
The Moderator administered the Oath of Office to the Ballot Clerks:
Ernie Hilton, Moderator, appointed the following to serve as ballot clerks:
Anson: Madison Murray
Embden: Christy Sockwell
New Portland: Lori Alyea
Solon: Leslie Giroux
ARTICLE #1 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR REGULAR INSTRUCTION.
School Board Recommends $4,573,988.00
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux a motion was made to approve article 1 in the amount of $4,573,988.00.
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Valerie Pinkham the residents voted to amend the amount in article 1 to $4,652,988.00. The resident voted by majority of hands in the opposing. Motion failed.
Back to the original article the residents voted to approve article 1 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 1 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #2 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
School Board Recommends $2,695,632.00
Upon motion by Troy Dunphy and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 2 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 2 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #3 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
School Board Recommends $0.00
Upon motion by Troy Dunphy and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 3 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 3 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #4 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR OTHER INSTRUCTION.
School Board Recommends $239,419.00
Upon motion by Valerie Pinkham and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 4 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 4 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #5 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR STUDENT AND STAFF SUPPORT.
School Board Recommends $1,110,734.00
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 5 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 5 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #6 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION.
School Board Recommends $523,940.00
Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 6 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 6 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #7 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.
School Board Recommends $853,632.00
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 7 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 7 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #8 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR TRANSPORTATION AND BUSES.
School Board Recommends $1,136,855.00
Upon motion by Valerie Pinkham and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 8 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 8 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #9 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE.
School Board Recommends $2,166,274.00
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 9 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 9 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #10 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR DEBT SERVICE AND OTHER COMMITMENTS.
School Board Recommends $0.00
Upon motion by Valerie Pinkham and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 10 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 10 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #11 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR ALL OTHER EXPENSES.
School Board Recommends $0.00
Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by Valerie Pinkham the residents voted to approve article 11 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 11 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #12 To see what sum the Regional School will appropriate for the total cost of funding public education from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act and to see what sum the Regional School Unit will raise and assess as each municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act in accordance with the Maine Revised Statues, Title 20-A, section 15688.
Recommends Amounts set forth below:
Total Appropriated (by municipality): Total raised (and Regional School
Unit assessments by municipality):
Town of: Town of:
Anson: $4,974,788.72 Anson: $1,229,386.91
Embden: $1,256,713.14 Embden: $1,256,713.14
New Portland: $938,046.59 New Portland: $666,110.00
Solon: $1,806,973.96 Solon: $746,457.16
Total Appropriated $8,976,522.41 Total Raised: $3,898,667.21
(Sum of above) ____________ (Sum of above) ____________
Explanation: The Regional School Unit’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from Pre-K to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act is the amount of money determined by state law to be the minimum amount that Regional School Unit must raise and assess in order to receive the full amount of state dollars.
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 12 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 12 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #13 (WRITTEN BALLOT REQUIRED) TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE IN ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS (RECOMMENDED $3,205,397.00), WHICH EXCEEDS THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALLOCATION MODEL BY (RECOMMEND $3,205,397.00) AS REQUIRED TO FUND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOMMENDS $3,205,397.00, WHICH EXCEEDS THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALLOCATION MODEL BY $3,205,397.00: THE SCHOOL BOARD GIVES THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR EXCEEDING THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING MODEL: THIS AMOUNT IS NEEDED TO COVER COSTS OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT SCHOOLS THAT THE STATE’S FUNDING MODEL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: 1) COSTS OF MAINTAINING STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS, 2) COSTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, 3) COSTS OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS, AND 4) TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted by written ballot 22 yes and 1 no, by majority the motion passes. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #14 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO EXPEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2027 FROM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE TOTAL COST OF FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM PRE-K TO GRADE 12 AS DESCRIBED IN THE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING ACT, NON-STATE-FUNDED SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES UNDER THE MAINE REVISED STATUES, TITLE 20-A, SECTION 15690, UNEXPENDED BALANCES, TUITION RECEIPTS, STATE SUBSIDY AND OTHER RECEIPTS FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
School Board Recommends $13,300,474.00
Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 14 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 14 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #15 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM WITH AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND ANY ADDITIONAL, INCIDENTAL, OR MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS IN THE INTEREST AND FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM.
School Board Recommends $10,000.00
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 15 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 15 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #16 TO SEE IF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL APPROPRIATE $16,000.00 FOR ADULT EDUCATION AND RAISE $16,000.00 AS THE LOCAL SHARE, WITH AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND ANY ADDITIONAL, INCIDENTAL, OR MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS IN THE INTEREST AND FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM.
Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 16 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 16 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #17 IN ADDITION TO AMOUNTS APPROVED IN THE PRECEDING ARTICLES, SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND SUCH OTHER SUMS AS MAY BE RECEIVED FROM FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS OR PROGRAMS OR OTHER SOURCES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR FOR SCHOOL AND OTHER PROGRAM PURPOSES, PROVIDED THAT SUCH GRANTS, PROGRAMS OR OTHER SOURCES DO NOT REQUIRE THE EXPENDITURE OF OTHER FUNDS NOT PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED?
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 17 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 17 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #18 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO TRANSFER AMOUNTS EXCEEDING 5% OF THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR ANY COST CENTER TO ANOTHER COST CENTER OR AMONG OTHER COST CENTERS FOR THE 2026-2027 FISCAL YEAR, PROVIDED THAT TRANSFERS SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED TOTAL SCHOOL BUDGET?
Upon motion by Valerie Pinkham and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 18 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 18 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #19 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO TRANSFER UP TO $120,000.00 FROM YEAR-END AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES TO THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT CAPITAL RESERVE FUND PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED AND TO EXPEND SAID FUNDS DURING THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR FOR UNANTICIPATED OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS?
Upon motion by Dallas Landry and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 19 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 19 as written. Motion passed.
ARTICLE #20 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND UP TO $50,000.00 FROM THE ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL RESERVE FUND DURING THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR FOR ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS?
Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 20 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 20 as written. Motion passed.
Upon motion by Tammy Connors and seconded by Chris Roux, the Moderator declared the meeting adjourned at
6:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_____________________________________
Mark L. Campbell
Superintendent