Board approves international exchange relationship with French school

The RSU 05 board voted to approve an exchange relationship between its high school and a partner school in Segre, France, after Superintendent Tom Gray outlined a model of reciprocal group visits and potential longer exchanges.

Gray said the program would typically send a group of 15–25 students who have studied French to France for approximately 11 days in a homestay format; the French students would then visit RSU 05 in a reciprocal visit in the fall. Costs are primarily travel and chaperone expenses; host families provide meals and lodging. Gray said trip insurance for participants would be modest (roughly $150–$200 per student), and fundraising and scholarship mechanisms used in other districts could improve accessibility for students with financial need.

Board members asked for clarification about costs, timing and insurance; Gray said no district general fund appropriation was requested — travel would be self‑funded by participating families, supplemented by fundraising and potential scholarship funds if the district develops a long‑term program. The board approved the relationship and encouraged administrators to work out logistical and insurance details before the first trip.

Next steps: administrators will finalize insurance and parental authorization procedures, establish fundraising/scholarship approaches and share details with families and language teachers.