RSU 14 board reviews budget, middle-school bond financing and uncertain final-year funding for BAR program

The Windham Raymond School District Board of Directors met March 25, 2026, at Windham High School to hear cost-center budget presentations and a districtwide budget overview ahead of a final vote. Administrators highlighted maintenance-level budgets for each school, flagged rising supply and busing costs, and told the board that upcoming health-insurance numbers and a state decision on BAR program funding will shape the district’s final figures.

The superintendent briefed the board on the Windham-Raymond Middle School construction financing and an April 1 second bond sale, saying the district expects a large state pass-through this year tied to the construction project. "This year we're going to be receiving over $10 million of state interest and principal," the superintendent said, describing the state-major-capital-construction passthrough as "money in, money out" that inflates the budget percentage but does not represent additional local revenue.

Why it matters: the construction payments and health-insurance projections together drive a meaningful year-over-year increase in the district budget. District staff projected a 4.9% year-over-year increase in expenditures and estimated that, including local construction payments, the overall budget effect could be roughly 7.2% in the spending figures shown to the board. District staff estimated the impact could translate to about a $300 increase on the tax bill for a $500,000 home in Windham; the final mill rate is set by local select boards, not the school board.

Cost-center highlights: school leaders presented maintenance budgets and explained local priorities. Windham Primary School Principal Kyle Rhodess praised new daytime monitors who supervise cafeterias and playgrounds, calling them a "hidden gem" that supports safety and daily routines. Rhodess also described the school's BAR (behavioral) implementation, noting a 4% decrease in chronically absent learners in February compared to last year and saying the program is helping staff identify and support students earlier. Raymond Elementary Principal Beth Peavey said last year’s part-time librarian is now full-time, which reduced the need to reassign interventionists. Manchester School Principal Danielle Denini emphasized the value of noon monitors and proposed a modest student-activity fund to offset field-trip busing costs.

Kataden program and student experiences: Rich Meserve, head of the Kataden program, asked to reduce his student-activities request after lower-than-expected transportation costs, sought a small increase in his food budget, and said the program expects to cap enrollment around 22–23 students because of space limits. Meserve described a recent Washington, D.C., trip where students delivered veterans-history interviews to the Library of Congress and met with Senator King.

BAR funding uncertainty: board members and administrators reiterated that one significant open item is whether the state Department of Education or the Legislature will restore the final-year funding for the BAR program. The district has included $150,000 in the budget for a districtwide coordinator and training; administrators who testified in Augusta said they expect a decision in the coming week. "There is some hope that maybe some of the money ... might be restored," a board member said.

Staffing and FTE changes: district leadership said the budget includes nearly 10 fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) positions than the prior year—seven of which are vacant edtech positions that are not currently filled. Board members pressed the administration to confirm how many special-education positions remain officially unfilled and requested a follow-up on that point.

Other budget drivers: the board discussed several non-discretionary cost drivers—health insurance, salary contracts, utility increases and debt service related to construction—that together make up most of the projected increase. Board members also highlighted the district's use of surplus funds (about $1.577 million carried forward) and state valuation changes that change the local share calculation.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the agenda and minutes earlier in the meeting. On policy matters, the board approved the second readings of JLCB (immunization of students) and JLCC (communicable infectious diseases). Vote tallies and mover/second names were not specified in the transcript for these motions.

Next steps: administrators told the board they will publish an updated budget packet ("version seven") once health-insurance numbers are finalized — expected the first week of April — and will report back with confirmed FTE counts and any updates on state BAR funding. The board adjourned the regular meeting and moved into a workshop session.

The district will present final figures and set the public hearing timeline once the outstanding items are resolved.