Regional District 11 holds public hearing on 2026–27 budget; residents question teacher pay and fund balance

Regional District 11 held a public hearing on the proposed fiscal 2026–27 budget April 7 at Parish Hill Library. Superintendent Andrew Skarzynski presented an overview of the proposed plan; the transcript does not include dollar totals or a formal vote.

Superintendent Andrew Skarzynski summarized the district’s budget proposal for 2026–27 and then opened the floor to public comment. The record does not include details on total spending, tax impact or an adoption vote; those specifics were not provided in the transcript.

Three residents spoke during the public-comment portion. Dana Barrow of Scotland asked about teacher salary increases and specifically requested the total percentage increase proposed for teacher pay. Kathy Donahue of Hampton raised several budget-related questions, asking about assessments, the origin of a reported decrease in the district’s fund balance, whether changes to the COC budget or grant usage explained the decline, and how per-pupil costs and added special-education expenses were being accounted for. Jennifer Nelson of Scotland expressed concern that budget materials had not been distributed to a Hampton administrator and questioned the increase in costs assigned to the town of Scotland.

Board members and district officials present included Joy Becker, Susan Lovegreen, Stephanie Bayne and Stacy Foster, along with Superintendent Andrew Skarzynski and Business Manager Jobina Miller. The transcript records no responses to the specific questions in the public-comment summaries and does not record any motions or votes on the budget at this meeting.

The hearing concluded and the meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM. The transcript does not specify the next procedural step for the budget (for example, a date for final adoption or further deliberation).