Superintendent Reports Enrollment Changes and New Staff at RSU 5 Meeting

The RSU 05 Board Meeting held on July 21, 2025, focused on several key topics, including student enrollment trends, staffing updates, and public comments regarding program quality.

The meeting began with public comments, where a parent expressed concerns about the quality of educational programs at the two schools within the district. The parent offered assistance in addressing these issues, emphasizing the importance of maintaining high standards for students.

Superintendent updates followed, highlighting the hiring of new staff members, including Jesse Adamo as a food service assistant and Heather Meyer as the high school office secretary. The superintendent presented data on student migration, noting a slight increase in the percentage of students attending other schools, from 16% to 17.88%. This change coincided with an overall enrollment decrease of 87 students in the district.

The superintendent explained that the increase in students attending other schools included 18 additional students under superintendent agreements, while the number of homeschooled students had decreased by 13. The reasons for families choosing different educational paths were acknowledged as personal and varied, with some families opting for schools in neighboring districts due to employment or personal preferences.

Board members discussed the annual nature of superintendent agreements, which require approval from both sending and receiving district superintendents. The superintendent clarified that these agreements are assessed each year based on student attendance and behavior. Additionally, it was noted that parents must provide their own transportation for students under these agreements.

Concerns were raised about the potential impact of St. Dominic's high school closure on student enrollment, with board members expressing interest in obtaining more detailed data on student demographics. However, the superintendent indicated that the current data collection process is manual and does not provide breakdowns by grade level.

The meeting concluded with a brief administrator report, where one member humorously noted the brevity of the agenda but prepared an extensive update nonetheless. The board members were encouraged to reach out for further discussions on any outstanding questions.

Overall, the meeting addressed important issues regarding student enrollment and program quality, with a commitment to ongoing communication and support for families within the district.