RSU 10 board approves FY2025–26 budget after heated debate over French class and special‑education staffing

The Western Foothills Regional School Unit 10 school board voted to approve the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 school budget on a motion by Chad (board member), seconded by Bonnie (board member), after more than two hours of public comment and board discussion about program priorities and staffing.

The district’s business manager, Leah, told the board the district’s overall percentage increase is 5.489% and that higher teacher wages and a 13.8% rise in insurance costs accounted for most of the change. Leah also said the state subsidy rose because a bond interest payment for the new school becomes due next year; that change raised both the state subsidy and expenditures but did not alter individual towns’ allocations.

Why it matters: the budget establishes the amount towns will be asked to cover above the state contribution and sets staffing levels for the coming year. The board’s approval moves the proposed budget to the annual budget meeting set for May 28 at Mountain Valley High School.

Board and public discussion

During public comment, resident Diane McAllister pressed the board on why Mountain Valley Community School’s combined budget appeared to increase by $754,584.74 and questioned class sizes and the inclusion of a French teacher at Mountain Valley High School when Buckfield Junior‑Senior High does not offer French. The board and staff reviewed the figures and reported roughly $502,000 of the increase was attributable to higher wages and benefits.

Board members debated several budgetary tradeoffs at length. Darcy (board member) moved to remove Mountain Valley…