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Region 15 board approves new courses, field trip and tuition rates; reserve fund motion withdrawn
Summary
At its Jan. 27 meeting, the Regional School District 15 Board of Education approved multiple new course offerings, a middle-school trip to Quebec City and 2025–26 tuition rates for district-run programs; a separate motion to create a new reserve fund for educational expenditures was withdrawn pending policy guidance.
The Regional School District 15 Board of Education approved a slate of new course offerings and district programs during its Jan. 27 meeting at Pomprow High School. Board members voted to approve new family & consumer science, career and technical education and physical education classes, authorized a middle-school trip to Quebec City for the 2025–26 school year and approved 2025–26 tuition rates for district-run preschool programs. A separate motion to establish a reserve fund for educational expenditures was withdrawn for further policy work.
Board members approved the following items as presented:
- Family & consumer science courses at Pomprow High School: Introduction to Culinary Arts (grades 9–12); Pastry and Baking (grades 10–12); Food Service and Restaurant Management (grades 11–12). The motion carried.
- Career and technical education courses at Pomprow High School: E-sports Experience (grades 10–12) and ECE (Early College Experience) Digital Media and Animation (grades 10–12). The motion carried.
- New PHS physical education course: Wilderness Physical Education (grades 10–12). The board recorded unanimous approval.
- A field trip for Memorial Middle School and Rochambeau Middle School to Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, for Saturday, Nov. 20, 2025, through Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. The board approved the trip as presented; board members discussed travel logistics and whether the trip should be scheduled around busy travel weeks.
- 2025–26 tuition rates for the district's preschool program. Board members questioned whether rising fees affect program access; district staff said transportation and program quality affect demand and that space, not price, is the primary bottleneck for enrollment.
"Space is our biggest bottleneck," staff member Josh said when board members asked whether tuition increases had reduced access to the preschool program.
Reserve fund motion withdrawn
Board members debated a superintendent recommendation to create a new nonrecurring reserve fund for educational expenditures. The proposal would create a separate account distinct from the district's existing capital reserve fund; board members asked for clear policy and guardrails about how and when the new fund would be used and whether it would divert money from capital projects. After an extended discussion, the member who made the motion voluntarily withdrew it so the finance committee can return with a draft policy and additional information.
Votes and procedure
Most motions were passed with voice votes recorded as "Aye" on the record; the transcript did not include roll-call tallies with member-by-member votes. Where unanimity was explicitly stated in the record, the article reports that fact. Several motions were seconded during the meeting and carried without additional amendment.
Other actions and announcements
- The board approved the minutes of the Jan. 13, 2025, regular meeting. - The GES/PES feasibility study committee will meet Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. at the BHS Media Center; that meeting is open to the public and will be recorded and posted to the district website.
No litigation, budget allocations tied to the newly proposed reserve fund, or binding commitments beyond the approved courses and trip were recorded during the meeting.
