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RSU 57 officials warn of preliminary drop in ESEA (Title) funds and invite stakeholder feedback
Summary
District staff told the school board that preliminary FY2027 federal Title I/II/IV allocations show a notable reduction; the district urged stakeholders to submit feedback via a form open through June 15 while it plans options to protect intervention services.
The RSU 57 school district told the board on May 13 that preliminary federal ESEA (Title) allocations for fiscal year 2027 show a significant reduction and that staff are seeking community input while they plan how to prioritize supports.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Missus Twitchell presented the preliminary Title I, II and IV allocations, explaining that the figures are formula-driven at the federal and state level and remain subject to final confirmation. "These are preliminary figures for FY2027," Twitchell said, adding that the district cannot obligate funds until final allocations are released and the Maine Department of Education approves the application.
Twitchell said the district historically transfers some Title II and Title IV funds into Title I to sustain early-intervention staff: "Our plan is to use the funds in the same way this coming year using some of Title II, Title IV, moving it into Title I to help pay for some of those interventionists." She posted a QR code and a feedback form that will remain active until June 15 for parents, staff and community members to comment on priorities.
Board members asked about the impact of an illustrative drop of roughly $40,000 raised by a director. Twitchell said the district performs school-level comprehensive needs assessments and will consider reallocating discretionary Title II/IV resources to preserve intervention services where possible: "Every school does a comprehensive needs assessment as part of this work... principals and buildings are looking at data and what the needs are." Dr. Marquis cautioned that final figures are not yet known but noted state-level budget work could produce offsetting "bridge money" for high‑need districts; he said that the district has been engaged in EPS legislation discussions but that specific district gains are still undetermined.
Twitchell and the superintendent stressed that Title funds must supplement, not supplant, local funds. The board encouraged community members to use the online feedback form and to contact the district for more information about how preliminary reductions might affect staffing or programs.
Next steps: the district will wait for final allocations and Maine Department of Education approval before obligating funds, continue scenario planning, and gather stakeholder feedback through June 15.
