Students and parents urge RSU 10 to retain Mountain Valley golf team after budget shift

Two students and a community member urged the RSU 10 School Board on June 16 to keep the Mountain Valley High School golf team in place after the sport’s funding was shifted during budget preparations.

Maxwell Spitzer, who identified himself as a student from Mexico, told the board he learned golf may be ending at Mountain Valley and said he wants to continue playing through high school. Maynard Peasley, who identified himself during public comment, asked for clarification about the status of the golf program and said he had a meeting scheduled with district staff to discuss the situation. Peasley explained that during last year’s budget process the district planned to consolidate funding so only one regional golf team could be supported; Buckfield has a program and Mountain Valley students were told they could play on the Buckfield team if needed. Peasley said the money for golf had been placed in the Buckfield region budget with an understanding that students from Mountain Valley could still play on the team, but that some community members may not have been informed about the arrangement.

A younger student, who identified herself as Mary Peasley, also spoke and said she had never played golf before but wanted the opportunity to join a Mountain Valley team rather than travel to Buckfield.

Board members and district staff responded that golf remains in the RSU 10 budget but that the combined funding does not support two separate teams. Deb (the superintendent) said the district will meet with staff and community members to clarify options; she said the district has a meeting scheduled to discuss golf and would report back. No formal board action was taken at the meeting on the golf program.