School District Adds 50% Dean of Students Position at Smith School to Address Attendance

The RSU 22 Budget Meeting held on May 1, 2025, focused on several key agenda items, primarily concerning budget allocations for school administration and support staff. The meeting began with discussions about the potential leasing of projectors and sound systems, with a decision to revisit this topic in future meetings.

The first significant item addressed was Article 6, which pertained to system administration. It was noted that most of the budget for negotiations had been eliminated, with only a small amount set aside for potential legal support in upcoming support staff negotiations. The discussion highlighted that while employee wages and benefits were included in this article, the overall changes were minimal compared to previous years.

Following this, Article 7 was introduced, which dealt with school administration. The discussion revealed that the budget had been adjusted to reflect current personnel, with no significant changes expected in system administration. However, a new 50% Dean of Students position was added at Smith School to address student behavior and attendance issues. This position could potentially be filled by an existing staff member or a new hire, depending on the needs of the school.

The meeting also touched on the rationale behind the new Dean of Students role, emphasizing the importance of addressing attendance problems, particularly in the Winterport and Frankfurt areas. The need for this position had been recognized for years, and it was hoped that it would help improve student attendance and reduce dropout rates.

Overall, the meeting concluded with a consensus on the necessity of the new administrative roles and the importance of addressing student attendance issues. The next meeting is scheduled for May 14, where further adjustments to the budget may be discussed.