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RSU 04 proposes shifting online course purchases, drops Vector contract and adds some curriculum subscriptions
Summary
Administrators proposed replacing Edmentum with Virtual High School seats purchased through the Western Maine Education Collaborative, keeping tuition‑reimbursement funding steady, eliminating the Vector mandatory‑training contract, and adding K–8 IXL and Mystery Science materials in the draft budget.
District administrators told the RSU 04 School Board they are proposing several instructional‑technology and curriculum changes intended to save money and standardize tools across grade levels.
Administrators said the high school has used Edmentum for remedial coursework and separately purchased Virtual High School seats for remote learners; the proposal would shift additional enrollments to Virtual High School seats bought at a reduced rate through the Western Maine Education Collaborative (WMEC), and drop Edmentum for those courses to save cost.
To assess need for tuition and course seats, staff distributed a paper survey to teachers asking if they intended to take coursework in the coming year; administrators said they used those returns and recent usage to keep the district tuition‑reimbursement line at the same level as last year.
The proposed budget would eliminate the district contract with Vector, a platform used for mandatory trainings, on the grounds that district‑created resources can replace that purchase and save a “couple thousand dollars” annually; administrators said creating replacement materials will be a summer project.
Administrators also included money for specific curriculum supports: Mystery Science scope‑and‑sequence materials (funds earmarked to purchase materials for a named staff member) and the return of K–8 IXL as an annual cost for teachers and students. The presentation noted WMEC membership provides access to professional development at no additional charge to district members and said district staff have been working to pare subscription offerings to what is affordable.
Technology instructional‑support staffing was discussed as well: the budget keeps funding for four district technology‑coach stipends (down from as many as six in past years) who work with teachers on classroom technology and professional development.
These instructional changes were presented in the district budget as proposals; administrators asked the board to review the line items and said they would provide additional detail if requested.
