RSU 57 board approves teacher nominations, accepts clean audit and takes first read of rewritten FMLA policy

At its April 29 meeting the RSU 57/MSAD 57 school board approved two teacher nominations, ratified probationary and continuing-contract recommendations, heard a finance committee report noting a clean audit, and accepted a first reading of a rewritten Family and Medical Leave policy.

The board approved nominations for Chloe Copeland, a Grade 1 teacher at Lyon Elementary (for the next school year), and Jessica Galaniff, a special education teacher at Shapley Memorial School (to fill a current vacancy). The motion to approve both nominations carried. Later the board voted to approve probationary and continuing-teacher contract recognitions as required by statute; administrators corrected a typographical error in the meeting backup (noting Jessica Johnson is an English language arts teacher, not an ELL teacher) and clarified that some staff hired midyear have different probationary timelines.

Wes Finney, reporting for the finance committee, said the committee had received a clean audit for the district and that Bill Stockmeyer will again serve as moderator for the district budget meeting. The finance report also noted planned modular roofing repairs, the finance committee’s acceptance of seven acoustic guitars donated to the high school (reported value $1,200), and that fuel prices are locked through August 2027 (heating oil $2.65/gal; gas $2.69/gal; diesel $3.02/gal).

The board accepted a first read of a comprehensive rewrite of policy GBN (Family and Medical Leave), which consolidates two administrative procedures (GBN‑R1 and GBN‑R2) into the policy; the policy will return for a second read within eight weeks. The board also voted to remove form GCSA‑E (employee computer and internet use acknowledgement) from policy because the acknowledgement is completed annually through Frontline.

Superintendent Dr. Marquis previewed district budget implications from newly enacted state laws referenced in the meeting as LD 22‑26, LD 22‑12 and LD 21‑92. He said LD 22‑26 "will really create some significant budgetary support in our FY28 subsidy allocation" and estimated it may be close to $1,300,000 but said he was not certain of the exact amount; he also said the state will provide roughly $200,000 in bridge funding in FY27. Dr. Marquis summarized LD 21‑92 as an "act regarding school employee investigations" that requires districts to place employees on paid administrative leave when investigations begin, notify the Maine Department of Education of active investigations, and provide outcomes of covered investigations.

The board reminded the public of the district budget meeting on May 5 at 7 p.m. at the middle school.