[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_75":74},"mediaId",6287054,"mediaKeyId","2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02","parentId",2555292,"title","Parent urges RSU 10 to address special education supports and school facility safety; board ratifies two fifth‑grade hires","audioSeconds",3622,"startMs",428000,"endMs",4050000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02&start=428&end=4050","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02/thumbnail_428000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6287054/Maine/Parent-urges-RSU-10-to-address-special-education-supports-and-school-facility-safety-board-ratifies-two-fifthgrade-hires","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287054-8db7166f37ee5215963077888bf9ff99/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023620&Signature=OOvWPdQvAU3mVac14DjScvHT8f1eitksurpoganiidMSOGOcKWtlcz~wQWlF8m7rBnkHFrbRpfybpUN7vfLyOi3aX~xYpzelpXLaav6yy0dBnxYRN6Vup5VWhnavVTJAsOUzSR7K5DqdiXD9wq~hAhSC99uyPUVTaYU7hJiN3nHSX7OoNpl0O8wmd6eykoV2SCmyMkspNN8nLcAyCVgKojECiHjJIvldDWNsKcgYrzF4cd58TrJzfJfDVM0lz4AstH5y2rThigDTZe2fGJBAt5pj9i7tienSiF0t2c0EAzyNpFyWorEjIr8wEBzpG3HXWH4hv50QVCZN8zX7FHT~cA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","RSU 10","date","2025-03-11T12:36:34Z","article","Amanda Hamner, introduced in the comment period as a Mexico resident and parent of two district students, told the board she has repeatedly raised concerns about special‑education services and building conditions. She said staff shortages and missing resources are affecting classroom instruction and that some students are not receiving required services under their IEPs. She also said she had not seen promised water‑lead testing results or air‑quality remediation and described persistent mold odors at a school building. “It is your responsibility to fix it and hold our superintendent accountable for that,” Hamner said.

Why it matters: Public comments put the board on notice about parental concerns regarding special‑education implementation and school facility condition. Administrators responded in subsequent agenda items by saying a posting for a special‑education director for the coming year has been made, and the superintendent said the district is hiring that role to begin July 1. The district also described ongoing efforts to complete fire‑drill scheduling and to run building safety walkthroughs; staff said a fire‑drill with the fire marshal’s replacement was expected in the near term.

During routine business the board accepted two personnel recommendations from the superintendent: Tracy Morin was appointed a fifth‑grade teacher at IES for the remainder of the school year; Mary Malcheski was appointed a fifth‑grade teacher at RAS for the 2024–25 school year (one‑year appointment). Both motions were made by Peter and seconded (the transcript records Chad seconding Morin; Chad seconded Malcheski) and the board approved both by voice vote.

The superintendent told the board the district had received a Title I comparability letter from the state indicating RSU 10 had met comparability indicators for Title I allocations. The superintendent also announced that Tammy Bridal, one of the district psychologists, had been named the Association of Maine School Psychologists’ practitioner of the year.

The board also accepted the resignation of long‑time board member Janet Brennick, who served seven years; administrators noted a vacancy exists for the Region 9 board seat and asked residents from the district region to consider applying.

Ending: Administrators said the district is posting for a special‑education director to begin July 1 and that facilities and safety follow‑ups (including fire‑drill scheduling and water/air testing) remain on the district’s checklist. The board approved the personnel actions listed in the meeting packet by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A parent gave a lengthy public comment alleging inadequate special‑education support, water and air concerns at a middle school site, and criticized a pay raise; the board accepted two superintendent hiring recommendations and noted posting for a special‑education director for next year.","taxTitle","RSU 10, School Districts, Maine","taxId",66963,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287059,"RSU 10 transportation staff propose bus‑management software, monitors and vehicle replacements to address safety and routing strains",862,9002000,9864000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02&start=9002&end=9864","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02/thumbnail_9002000.jpg","/articles/6287059/Maine/RSU-10-transportation-staff-propose-busmanagement-software-monitors-and-vehicle-replacements-to-address-safety-and-routing-strains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287059-2ab723358801c54c8d32e4f8cc5944ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023620&Signature=jn1QV9BZ53J56h4JVAKW5rv3jscsTdroN91NZDf80zlh~hP2AzM4iEL7QhywUOkxf1SZ4zOnSQEVZGBb-1X3aAh27XPuDeP6ZRvaj2KY~9iDj6zIoWB4X9nItfU6alAiOZZpx4vZjSN~YoToQVZc5RrjOiviy2Al3jdIRz8oSVyD1Na86Pq62IhAGOi21x4LCJ25eC7aiSFJPWSPI0utWkZJHfkHIjNzERGg21~GMIZxZi9cZ0Ae~KYKxBjM53~IlODADvuoqa1eMkiD3MTk7Ce1PopVzxN--vCX9OziJ3ZEmCt5kAEyYEfUhHcOA-cyV4k8lMVmtwfW~m49zP4-JA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Transportation supervisor Devin presented three principal items for the board’s consideration: a replacement bus‑management platform that includes tablets for drivers and a parent app, a proposal to pilot part‑time bus monitors on AM/PM routes, and continued replacement of aging buses and vans.

Why it matters: District staff said discipline incidents on regular bus runs had increased in recent years and that tablet adoption and improved routing could reduce driver distraction and dispatcher workload. Transportation staff also explained the ongoing vehicle‑replacement plan is designed to maintain spare capacity so the district can continue daily runs when units are in for repair.

Devin summarized the software proposal: the vendor would provide routing, driver turn‑by‑turn navigation on tablets, two‑way visibility for the transportation office, integration with PowerSchool for automatic roster updates, and a parent app with bus ETAs. The annual cost presented was $35,100; Devin noted the district currently pays about $14,000 for the existing service plus cellular data for tablets, and that some of the existing cost would be offset if the board approves the new platform. He said the vendor’s price includes device maintenance and replacement cycles and on‑site training.

On discipline, staff showed incident counts recorded for bus runs: disciplinary reports grew from 67 (2021–22) to 356 (2022–23) and 497 (2023–24) before dropping to a lower pace in the current year as tablet use grew; specialized transportation runs still showed a notable number of disciplinary events this year. Staff proposed part‑time bus monitors to ride AM/PM runs and assist drivers with student management; the district suggested starting with a small pilot using hourly aid contracts similar to van aids rather than full‑time hires.

Devin also asked the board to continue a replacement cadence of approximately two buses per year and two vans this year, saying that several vehicles have high mileage and rust and that replacing older units improves reliability and spare availability. He said the state will reimburse a portion of authorized bus purchases under the state bus‑replacement program when vehicles meet eligibility criteria (age or mileage thresholds).

Board members asked for contract length and vendor references on the proposed software and for clarity on how monitors would be assigned (AM/PM only) and whether they would be part of existing contracts. Devin said he would provide follow‑up information on contract terms and vendor references and that monitors would be employed as part‑time, hourly positions similar to van aids.

Ending: Transportation staff will provide written vendor contracts, cost comparisons and implementation timelines at a future meeting so the board can decide whether to include the requests in the final budget.","Transportation staff asked the board to consider a $35,100 annual bus‑management platform (offset by the district's current software costs), part‑time bus monitors to reduce on‑bus discipline incidents, and continuing a two‑buses‑per‑year vehicle‑replacement plan to maintain spares.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287064,"RSU 10 reports fewer extreme incidents after districtwide Tier 2/3 behavior push",950,4135000,5085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02&start=4135&end=5085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02/thumbnail_4135000.jpg","/articles/6287064/Maine/RSU-10-reports-fewer-extreme-incidents-after-districtwide-Tier-23-behavior-push","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287064-2ff51acd6e02e80a3bc9c399721b75de/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023620&Signature=i17M7STBiGkrj~CcVQu7NQezHXAaBUj2WmO4X-ecqgyqeR2IWDOqSyudhyzIhAoNpYzFk-rSGbZu~pARcaFyESdP1isZoEiMM-ll7ZdhyQOud6ohuECw2VUHbqslWv1BgS7o99o75BbyRV4Rr28o7ZVbeXzHxuwHiBFDhEmw4JE6y0bOeMbL9cH~eH7i-dcOMTr2KqqVnzE4OBgydDjmKfvalJfGZxXD-n2ucDJ6I0hffE7Fxtm-Q6SQhRgSFI7ddIMWvDZoh~Cq3A82g0AGuUAk7XJ1gwAhej0TqrZcnTspgsUrz8ilRJLhH5FOCwNFD-8GyXv8awIo3Igb66pCcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District intervention lead Mr. Gilbert outlined work the district has taken since fall to address persistent disruptive and dangerous behaviors in some classrooms, describing sustained committee work, staff training and program adjustments that the district says are reducing severe incidents.

Why it matters: Board members had received teacher reports last year that disruptions were causing repeated emptying of classrooms and adversely affecting instruction. Administrators said the district used Title‑funds and district professional development dollars to expand restorative practices, increase specialized programming, and standardize reporting to better manage the concentration of incidents among a small number of students.

In his summary, Mr. Gilbert described the process: facilitated committee meetings, school‑level behavior matrices for staff use, a focus on placing students into programming that fits their needs (including life‑skills behavioral programming at Monrovia Elementary and additional special‑education staffing at RES), and targeted professional development. He also said the district checked statutory restraints and exclusion rules as part of the review and used its student‑incident tracking system (referred to in the packet as \"SWIS\") to analyze where and when incidents occur.

Data presented at the March meeting showed fewer greenhouse or extreme '13‑70' reports so far this year than in the prior year — the presenter said there are three fewer such reports to date — and a decline in office disciplinary referrals (ODRs) compared with last year in most schools. The district acknowledged the measurement is not perfect — staff reported differences in who completes certain forms and urged consistent reporting — and said it plans to build a simple tracking document to record classroom evacuations and other operational impacts.

Administrators emphasized the strategy of minimizing the impact of one student's behavior on an entire class by prioritizing removal of the individual student where possible, rather than emptying the classroom. Staff reported anecdotal reductions in full‑class evacuations and declines in workers' compensation claims tied to dangerous student behavior; the district intends to formalize a metric for tracking that outcome.

Board members asked for continued follow‑up and a plan to retain consistent administration and adequate specialized staff in each building. The district scheduled another review meeting for April 29 and said it would report back on progress and any required program adjustments.

Ending: Officials said the work is ongoing, that improvements are early but visible in the data presented, and that further monitoring and consistent reporting across schools will be necessary to confirm sustained change.","District administrators presented a multi-pronged plan using restorative practices, staff training, program changes and data tracking; early metrics show fewer extreme '13‑70' reports and fewer disciplinary evacuations compared with last year.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6287068,"RSU 10 officials present draft 2025–26 budget; administrators say $1.35 million in cuts needed to reach 8% target",6440,4240000,10680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02&start=4240&end=10680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2555292-ebe91eb38251e6632bab6176f744bf02/thumbnail_4240000.jpg","/articles/6287068/Maine/RSU-10-officials-present-draft-202526-budget-administrators-say-135-million-in-cuts-needed-to-reach-8-target","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6287068-421e371344336ea1be9ba5bd15478121/orig.mp4?Expires=1775023620&Signature=OwH9s1Kjc9plrQilg7ZDIEzYwyEqEHd797BfVebEidTn~4AqAWoaI3TF-MfMb~Yg-tGv613ALvQrT3ZoGWGsOxN8b-AKzAN5qzRKPIk4y8y5M5McJZH5Ig5cZFxdb6DLw-FIvUnlk8noO1LNHogr7Xjk0w3a-AMDT24-VdhUGcY88cQ1a~soseH0UWn6B4cxAAXoDUlACM8ZGfSFK5JMwLmK3tkvbQTcYGhq-DkXhMrV77c-PND3-pamQOHhpSXDiBQIPMXLu2Yjm8WRkFBIDniL6tE4plQE2v2cUCaqwiW-Lxk1eIGkPvTN3oBzxd0dzxowM5zXzdakkWlP7GljOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Deb outlined a preliminary 2025–26 budget and told the school board the draft currently projects a roughly 15.8% average increase to taxpayers, and that officials have identified about $615,000 in initial reductions but will need roughly $1,350,000 more to reach an 8% target.

Why it matters: The draft budget shows several large, fixed costs that drove the early draft increase — a projected 16% rise in health insurance premiums, higher transportation and out-of-district placement costs, and $3.3 million recorded for debt service on the new school building. Board members and administrators said balancing those pressures without additional state relief or cuts will be difficult ahead of the town warrant process.

Board and staff presented the numbers March 6, walking the board through each of the district’s 11 cost centers and the assumptions behind them. Deb said the district moved its health-insurance assumption up after recent vendor estimates: “We added another 5%. So we have 16% in our budget draft,” she told the board. The presentation shows that preliminary administrative reductions have already reduced the budget-to-budget increase from 19.82% to 18.03% but that more reductions will be required to lower the tax impact for member towns.

Administrators said debt service for the new Mount Valley Community School accounts for the largest single line increase in the state revenue worksheets; because the state sends subsidy for the debt payment, the amount appears both on the revenue side and the expenditure side of the budget outline. Finance staff said that without that debt-service amount the year‑to‑year budget‑to‑budget increase would be much smaller — roughly 9.61% in the draft presented — but the town impact still remains significant when the full budget is considered.

Officials noted a mix of one-time and recurring savings they already identified: reduced benefit assumptions for vacancies (changing assumed full‑family health coverage to a lower standard), delaying nonessential capital items such as gym bleachers and re‑surfacing projects, and postponing certain new hires or reassignments until the district can confirm ongoing revenues. The packet distributed to the board lists these reductions as examples the administration has already removed from the draft.

Several newly proposed positions and programs remain in play and will affect final figures if the board chooses to preserve them. Among the items flagged in the cost-center review were a family and consumer sciences teacher at Buckfield Junior‑Senior High School, an English‑language‑learners (ELL) teacher coordinator, and athletics and co‑curricular stipends (including volleyball and esports proposals). Administrators said stipends and other pay items are subject to the outcome of ongoing contract negotiations with employee groups, which could further affect final costs.

Finance staff also reminded the board of the size of the district’s available fund balance: the district used roughly $1.35 million in carryover for the current draft, leaving approximately $1.48 million available into the following year under the assumptions shown. Board members noted that fund‑balance choices affect how much the district can safely use year‑to‑year and that major draws reduce flexibility in future budget cycles.

What’s next: Administrators said they will continue internal reductions and bring a revised draft to the board. They listed meeting dates and said a special meeting on May 5 could be used, if necessary, for final adoption. Deb asked the board for direction about a target to aim for; multiple board members said they want the administration to continue identifying reductions toward the 8% goal but acknowledged the scale of cuts required.

Ending: The board did not adopt a final tax‑rate target at the meeting; administrators will present additional reduction options and updated estimates at the next work session so the board can set a formal recommendation to go before voters.","Superintendent-led administrators outlined a draft 2025–26 budget that currently shows a 15.8% average taxpayer impact and said roughly $1.35 million in reductions would be required to present an 8% increase to voters. Drivers include a projected 16% health-insurance rise and a $3.3 million debt-service line for the new school.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parent urges RSU 10 to address special education supports and school facility safety; board ratifies two fifth‑grade hires

RSU 10 transportation staff propose bus‑management software, monitors and vehicle replacements to address safety and routing strains

RSU 10 reports fewer extreme incidents after districtwide Tier 2/3 behavior push

RSU 10 officials present draft 2025–26 budget; administrators say $1.35 million in cuts needed to reach 8% target