The RSU 40/MSAD 40 Board of Directors approved a package of changes to Montgomery (Madomet) Valley High School course offerings at its meeting, including moving Government and Economics to year-long formats, adding AP Government for grades 10–12, converting AP microeconomics to a full-year offering, and creating new electives such as a history-of-sports class, a coaching/athletic-administration course and a two-credit media-literacy course intended to work with Lincoln County Television.

The changes were presented by Naomi (staff member), who said the revisions respond to low or uneven enrollment in some semester courses and to the district’s move to a 24-credit graduation expectation. "We have been running Government as a semester course and Economics as a semester course… the teachers asked if they could have the same kids for the full year," Naomi said. She described changes intended to reduce instances where a course would have only two or three students in a subsequent semester and to offer deeper, year-long instruction where appropriate.

Why it matters: board members framed the package as a response to small class sizes and shifting student needs after COVID-era learning gaps. Naomi said the course changes aim both to keep classes viable and to offer choices that align with students’ postsecondary plans, including community college pathways. "CPTAC stands for college prep technical… we have been kind of tossing around how we can communicate that these CP Tech classes might be… better suited for some kids who are going to community college," Naomi said.

Key program changes and details discussed by staff include:
- Combine Government and Economics into year-long college-prep sections (described in the packet as CPTAC/college-prep technical); AP Government will be offered as a year-long course for grades 10–12.
- Convert microeconomics into a single, year-long AP microeconomics offering rather than separate semester micro/macro courses, to prevent very small follow-on enrollments.
- Add electives such as a history-of-sports course, a semester-long "success toolkit" (7 Habits), and a coaching/athletic-administration and game-day management semester course intended to support community coaching needs.
- Create a two-credit media-literacy honors course that would run as back-to-back periods (film/production days require two blocks); Lincoln County Television (LCTV) had planned to partner and provide equipment and apprenticeships but funding from some towns appears uncertain.
- Continue some advanced placement (AP) pathways and move away from a Thomas College dual-enrollment sequence after the college would not offer College Composition II; the district plans to rely more on AP and AP Capstone seminar/research offerings instead.
- Remove certain "physics tech" sections and similar low-enrollment technical sections while maintaining single-section physics where viable.
- Provide a new course to give credit to multilingual learners for work to learn English.

Board members asked about staffing and implementation logistics. Randy (board member) asked whether additional staff hires would be necessary; Naomi answered no, noting that the changes are intended to reorganize existing sections rather than create net new staffing. Linda (board member) asked about access for CP students if media-literacy was offered as honors; Naomi said the staff will make adjustments to support individual learners. Naomi also said work-study and MCST (Midco School of Technology) options remain available as pathways that fit into the 24-credit structure.

Funding and dependencies: Naomi described a pending partnership with Lincoln County Television and said one town’s reduction in support meant LCTV’s original plan to provide on-site equipment and a funded production schedule was uncertain. "I don't wanna speak incorrectly, but all I know is… LCTV was going to ask Waldenborough to up their contribution to $20,000… but now it's not even on the Wallavera budget," Naomi said. She stated the district will try to run the class with existing equipment and continue to seek funding.

The board moved and seconded approval of the changes "as recommended by the learning committee pursuant to policy IG IGA." The motion was recorded as passed; the minutes show the motion carried following discussion and questions.

Next steps: Naomi said teachers have volunteered for AP Capstone training this summer (the nearest training was noted as in Vermont) and staff will monitor enrollments and staffing as schedules are finalized for the coming school year.