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RSU 73 highlights robotics awards, unified team success and student engagement
Summary
Board heard reports on robotics and unified robotics achievements, special-education enrollment and support, and school-level events including Phoenix Fest and a successful readathon; district leaders noted improved attendance and reductions in suspensions compared with last year.
Mason reported that the high school robotics team competed at the New England District Pine Tree event and performed strongly in playoffs, serving as a playoff captain. "The team also came home with the team sustainability award," Mason said, crediting the team’s sustainable-bumpers project that the league will adopt.
Mason added that the Spruce Mountain High School unified robotics team — the district’s first unified team — won the outstanding robot performance award from Special Olympics Maine. District staff praised volunteers and mentors (including Rob Taylor and the "Blue Crew") for mentoring the unified team and supporting students during competitions.
Sherry provided the district’s special-education snapshot: "We currently have 345 students in special education," she said, an increase of one since the February report, with 22 open referrals and 14 students placed out of district in special-purpose day-treatment programming. Sherry noted obligations for students placed out of district and discussed partnerships and mentoring to expand unified activities across RSU 73.
At the elementary level, Patrick thanked a donor who provided 30 sleds after the district closed a sledding hill and said the readathon had raised $8,490 so far; primary students collectively logged 21,758 minutes of reading. School leaders reported improvements in suspension numbers compared with last year and highlighted Phoenix Fest as a strong community and attendance booster across grade levels.
Middle- and high-school staff reported continued events and positive culture indicators: middle-school enrollment was given at 267 with year-to-date average daily attendance near 93.7%, and high-school enrollment at 418. Staff described upcoming events (Shrek Jr., ASVAB testing, scholarship application deadlines) and increased student participation in spring activities.
The board thanked staff and volunteers for mentorship and programming that organizers say are helping keep students engaged and reduce disciplinary incidents.
