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RSU 18 voters approve $20.85M for regular instruction amid questions on enrollment and consolidation
Summary
Voters approved $20,848,076.69 for regular instruction. A meeting participant asked whether lower enrollments could justify school consolidation; the superintendent provided October 1 enrollment counts and said average K–6 class sizes are about 17:1, and there is not sufficient empty space to consolidate now.
Voters at the RSU 18 regional budget meeting approved $20,848,076.69 for regular instruction after a period of public questioning about enrollments and the potential for school consolidation.
Sherry, a meeting participant, asked whether declining enrollments meant the district could consolidate some schools and ‘‘not taking care of 8, but maybe taking care of 5 or 6.’’ The superintendent provided the October 1 enrollment counts, saying, "As of the October 1 child count, Atwood Primary is at 199. Belgrade Central School, 225. China Primary School, 241. James Bean School, 308. Williams Elementary School, 205. China Middle School, 182. Messalonsky Middle School, 529. And Messalonsky High School, 665." The superintendent added that average class sizes for K–6 were "around 17 to 1," and that there is not enough empty space in buildings now to make consolidation feasible.
Board procedure required a motion and a vote; the moderator put the article to the meeting and announced that Article 1 passes. The discussion clarified current student counts and the district’s immediate operational limits but did not produce a consolidation plan or directive.
