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RSU 63 board weighs consolidation plans after RSU 34 briefing, schedules workshop
Summary
RSU 63 board members heard public safety and staffing concerns and a recommendation to hold a full-board consolidation workshop after a Zoom briefing with RSU 34; the Consolidation Committee will next hear statements from first responders and the district transportation coordinator.
HOLBROOK/EDDINGTON/HOLDEN, Maine — The RSU 63 Board discussed plans for possible school consolidation at its March 31 meeting, after Superintendent Jared Fulgoni reported a recent Zoom briefing with RSU 34 about that district’s experience with school closure and consolidation.
Fulgoni told the board he, Board Chair Linda Graban and the Consolidation Committee chair met with RSU 34 Superintendent Matthew Cyr to learn lessons from that district’s consolidation. Fulgoni said he recommends a full-board workshop on consolidation before the board takes further steps and noted that the Consolidation Committee’s April 1 meeting will include statements from first responders and Transportation Coordinator Zach Chenier about the safety of individual schools.
Members of the public urged the board to consider safety, staffing and special education implications. Ben Breadmore, manager for the Town of Holden, provided board members with a binder of crash data for Route 9 and Route 1A and said Holden’s goal with consolidation is “a strategic, long-term investment that will benefit the taxpayers of Holden,” according to the meeting minutes. Susan Dunham Shane of Eddington praised Holbrook teachers for maintaining detailed substitute plans and asked the Consolidation Committee to take special education and other support staff into account.
Kristie Licata of Eddington asked the Policy Committee to review Policy JFBC (Secondary School Tuition), noting that her daughter was accepted to the Maine School of Science and Mathematics and that under current district practice room and board are not covered even when the state covers full tuition.
The board did not take a formal vote on consolidation at the March 31 meeting. Fulgoni’s recommendation for a workshop and the Consolidation Committee’s plan to gather input from first responders and the transportation coordinator are the next procedural steps; the Consolidation Committee was scheduled to meet April 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Holbrook School.
