[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6294225,"mediaKeyId","2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9","parentId",2522055,"title","RSU 04 budgets for steep health‑insurance rise; wellness coordinator retained as SPS closure could cut positions","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2610000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9&start=2610&end=2610","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9/thumbnail_2610000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6294225/Maine/RSU-04-budgets-for-steep-healthinsurance-rise-wellness-coordinator-retained-as-SPS-closure-could-cut-positions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294225-0bd9e5dc1ca97d71b5332a00f57119cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146941&Signature=DRH53OB7-q25~QQSL696OY26dFfdB5fChKZ4cxvQfhZRnapgqN45UU4YMz1f9kuGIHsC9~NxQ~qv7Heb9glSyfkrSV0ZVEGeGifjDnrT0zXHIRQ6QoRr8lCO8~vjPgiZkLT6VmB3yXJm-e8LRB6i5LYG64tWjC038sOYi0cGyf2qvVe89YVUx0K9tZXJmMVXnr7kM4wFVUv9wSWDHA7RIWi~IbW8XEHXt0ew-ysRzrra0NL~cUL4UHqfc9BpWtWWeQoT8FtV5wNSuDt4cWhXK6CaaFNTZaKGVi9fOEtKeVIZsPZAJYGcmhH2Fmdr~YN9acMZqRr~xDp5g3Fg6FQI6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","RSU 04","date","2025-03-06T13:56:48Z","article","District administrators told the RSU 04 School Board the district faces a substantial rise in health‑insurance costs and that the budget currently assumes a 15% increase while the MEA Benefits Trust has signaled the actual increase could approach 18%.

Administrators described steps the Benefits Trust and insurers are taking to reduce the impact, but said district staff will not change the budget lines until insurers and the trust provide a definitive rate band. Administrators said the board should expect updated totals at the next round of budget meetings; they identified March 28 as a date when more definitive figures should be available and said additional meetings are tentatively scheduled for April 2 and April 16 to finalize decisions.

The presentation also described a wellness coordinator position funded by a stipend; administrators said the coordinator runs voluntary programs, monthly health challenges and incentives available through the Anthem‑linked program and the MEA Benefits Trust. Board members asked whether participation and return on investment (ROI) are tracked; administrators replied participation data could be obtained and tracked going forward but said it has not been systematically linked to insurance‑cost metrics in district reporting.

Administrators emphasized the interaction between the health‑insurance assumptions and the SPS closure scenario. If Sabattus Primary School (SPS) were to close, the presentation showed salary and benefit reductions tied to positions at SPS (including a cited IT SPS position and a health‑aide line) and said the cost center savings in that scenario would be about $65,000.

No final board action on an SPS closure or changes to benefits was taken at the meeting; administrators said they will return with final insurance rates and updated budgets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Workshop - March 5, 2025 - Part 2","oneSentenceSummary","Administrators warned the district faces a large health‑insurance increase and budgeted a 15% rise (with an 18% scenario noted); the wellness‑coordinator stipend remains and SPS closure would remove some positions and reduce the cost center by roughly $65,000.","taxTitle","RSU 04, School Districts, Maine","taxId",77254,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6294232,"RSU 04 proposes shifting online course purchases, drops Vector contract and adds some curriculum subscriptions",2218,17000,2235000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9&start=17&end=2235","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9/thumbnail_17000.jpg","/articles/6294232/Maine/RSU-04-proposes-shifting-online-course-purchases-drops-Vector-contract-and-adds-some-curriculum-subscriptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294232-b4bf6d6529ebf46836c85b5a3154694f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146941&Signature=FPHJ-oUbTctL~Wa4XrdOj3XQITpM71KZ30BptRVd45NLxDHfvXHN1Mq7X5mCSMMf-7Psu-X8m1J6S7gjEozAMvePkya9ATIx6aVOqEy8Xd3AFyC70KgTCl1yRw1yjkoQlgwHuMUJSoHTX~VQF40tAu0KAJT8InY4rIAuLG8mI1UW5pHcgWaVtPqBaB1dBi6O82pXB~7NUCHAu509SMdF8VtuKMZw2vItLXtVdwCh3nZvOUlyxRLPxAej8byDSbn-YXkaGAhcOatGugxMi1sOY3dHcfZpzZ0xJiSQ3p1P4aLjZZlwgpI0YYBTZNMLbHB-F2ipDo5JWht~DjANOLYNOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District administrators told the RSU 04 School Board they are proposing several instructional‑technology and curriculum changes intended to save money and standardize tools across grade levels.

Administrators said the high school has used Edmentum for remedial coursework and separately purchased Virtual High School seats for remote learners; the proposal would shift additional enrollments to Virtual High School seats bought at a reduced rate through the Western Maine Education Collaborative (WMEC), and drop Edmentum for those courses to save cost.

To assess need for tuition and course seats, staff distributed a paper survey to teachers asking if they intended to take coursework in the coming year; administrators said they used those returns and recent usage to keep the district tuition‑reimbursement line at the same level as last year.

The proposed budget would eliminate the district contract with Vector, a platform used for mandatory trainings, on the grounds that district‑created resources can replace that purchase and save a “couple thousand dollars” annually; administrators said creating replacement materials will be a summer project.

Administrators also included money for specific curriculum supports: Mystery Science scope‑and‑sequence materials (funds earmarked to purchase materials for a named staff member) and the return of K–8 IXL as an annual cost for teachers and students. The presentation noted WMEC membership provides access to professional development at no additional charge to district members and said district staff have been working to pare subscription offerings to what is affordable.

Technology instructional‑support staffing was discussed as well: the budget keeps funding for four district technology‑coach stipends (down from as many as six in past years) who work with teachers on classroom technology and professional development.

These instructional changes were presented in the district budget as proposals; administrators asked the board to review the line items and said they would provide additional detail if requested.","Administrators proposed replacing Edmentum with Virtual High School seats purchased through the Western Maine Education Collaborative, keeping tuition‑reimbursement funding steady, eliminating the Vector mandatory‑training contract, and adding K–8 IXL and Mystery Science materials in the draft budget.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6294236,"RSU 04 budget proposal trims technology staff, flags rising licensing and security costs",2050,195000,2245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9&start=195&end=2245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2522055-074c524bde5c57af5df655c8251d2ec9/thumbnail_195000.jpg","/articles/6294236/Maine/RSU-04-budget-proposal-trims-technology-staff-flags-rising-licensing-and-security-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6294236-bf21ff10d19f7bac8882f436bd52817c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146941&Signature=Z-xooJdi9sD4~D7Db8y3nsDJcBViXauef9xR~xtvRwN2SzlTET0i3fmNayRLCgFaRUU-g6bNBJIwkVX1H7mQCg2dc3r8T50ztVz8~mC3iTs5qjiHOxvJIYti31FlF6XD7aH3BujIYAL2hk~qYxKuzKEcjXHHz1XyQbxIggHrQz5sc5BrYBJ5VMCg6ocAKVhEqNL~fWNPSRGcw6W~R4tKqxC10cuPYLTrfqL2wGK4UnNzNYTlVCWSRG-0mzo2mKx18n6CnJheCWwQnl9KaQs5RVg-jz9b78V6xP8uMIw~aYWD3xDpcMekv8CAb-CMeUIUG0TInJsuTCAX5KcmVf2nKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a budget meeting of the RSU 04 School Board, district administrators outlined technology budget choices that would reduce on-site technical staffing, defer some device refreshes and absorb renewed annual licensing costs for security systems.

Administrators said the budget as presented does not include a district technician position currently shared across multiple schools; the position had been advocated for by technology staff but was omitted in this draft. The presentation said the district will “front load” work in coming months to complete key tasks if the position is not retained.

The proposal notes the district has not purchased locally funded student devices in five years and will not start a new device lease next year. The currently deployed inventory is K–8 iPads and Chromebooks for grades 9–12; administrators said a number of devices are now off warranty and the district is locally maintaining and repairing them rather than buying insurance.

Administrators briefed the board on two recurring districtwide technology costs that previously were paid with federal CARES/COVID grants and now shift to the operating budget: annual camera licensing and firewall management licensing. Camera licensing was described in the presentation as “almost $20,000 a year” to provide access and 30‑day retention for district video; the firewall and related managed security licenses were highlighted as essential to keep protecting the network after the initial CARES-funded purchase.

Administrators also pointed to an active E‑Rate 470 infrastructure project that would reimburse about 80% of eligible costs; the presentation identified the district’s local share at roughly $35,000 and emphasized the project is on a “use it or lose it” window.

Other items called out in the technology cost center include phone‑system and PA replacements at multiple schools (some replacement work prompted by recent failures), wireless network upgrades for several buildings, and the replacement cycle timing for teacher/admin MacBooks (noted for consideration in fiscal 2027).

The presentation framed these choices in two budget versions: one with Sabattus Primary School (SPS) open and staffed as today, and a second that assumes SPS closes and certain positions (including an SPS IT position) are removed from the payroll. The administrators said the difference between the two versions of the cost center is just over $65,000.

The board did not vote on these items at the meeting; administrators said they will return with updated totals once health‑insurance rate bands and other figures are finalized later in the budget process.","District administrators presented a technology budget that would eliminate a shared technician position, delay device refreshes, and absorb recurring camera and firewall licensing costs covered initially with federal COVID-era funds.","actionData","errors"]

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RSU 04 budgets for steep health‑insurance rise; wellness coordinator retained as SPS closure could cut positions

RSU 04 proposes shifting online course purchases, drops Vector contract and adds some curriculum subscriptions

RSU 04 budget proposal trims technology staff, flags rising licensing and security costs