RSU 18 board accepts visual and performing arts curriculum after committee presentation

The RSU 18 School Board voted unanimously to accept an updated visual and performing arts curriculum after a presentation by the district’s curriculum committee.

Presenter (identified in the meeting as a representative of the visual and performing arts committee) showed a six-minute video summarizing work that began last October, noting the committee sought feedback from educators across the district and made tweaks to align instruction with student needs. The presentation highlighted an elementary-level statistic on total contact time with arts instructors, which committee members said shows the limited time specialists have to accomplish curriculum goals.

Committee members urged the board to adopt the work so teachers and schools can implement the revised curriculum next year. A board member moved to accept the committee’s curriculum work and the motion was seconded; the board voted unanimously to approve the recommendation.

Board members and presenters said the committee’s process included review across schools and that the curriculum will help standardize arts instruction and better align time and expectations for specialists. The board did not amend the curriculum at the meeting; staff indicated any remaining edits would be handled before implementation.

The action follows the district’s regular curriculum-review cycle and is intended to guide programming across elementary, middle and high school visual and performing arts courses. The board did not set additional follow-up deadlines at the meeting; administrators said implementation details and timelines will be coordinated with building principals and arts staff.