May 22nd Minutes

Minutes of the Special Board Meeting

of

RSU #74 Board of Directors

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

6:00 p.m.

At

Carrabec High School

Troy Dunphy, Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Directors Present: Troy Dunphy, Judi Dunphy, Doug Cahill, Georgiana Manzer, Pamela Mitchell, Eric Ewing, Kevin Sousa, David Royce, Dallas Landry, Brenda Stevens, Laura Layman, and Tori MacDonald.

Directors absent with notification: Robert Lightbody, Robert Lightbody, and Grace Carreiro

Directors Absent without notification: None

Staff Members Present: 12

Students Present: 1

Citizens Present:  8

Article 1A:   To elect a Moderator to preside at the meeting

Upon motion by Kevin Sousa and seconded by David Ela, the residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to elect Phil Curtis as Moderator. Motion passed.

a.)     Superintendent Mark Campbell administered the Oath of Office to Phil Curtis.

b.)     The Moderator administered the Oath of Office to the Ballot Clerks:

Phil Curtis, Moderator, appointed the following to serve as ballot clerks:

Anson: Tammy Murray

Embden:  Christy Sockwell

New Portland: Jacob Pinkham and Lori Alyea

Solon: Leslie Giroux

ARTICLE #1 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR REGULAR INSTRUCTION.

School Board Recommends $4,494,764.00

Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 1 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 1 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #2 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

School Board Recommends $2,123,931.00

Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Valerie Pinkham the residents voted to approve article 2 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 2 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #3 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

School Board Recommends $0.00

Upon motion by Eric Ewing and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 3 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 3 as written. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #4 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR OTHER INSTRUCTION.

School Board Recommends $234,787.00

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 4 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 4 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #5 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR STUDENT AND STAFF SUPPORT.

School Board Recommends $1,062,136.00

Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 5 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 5 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #6 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION.

School Board Recommends $467,971.00

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by Elaine Aloes the residents voted to approve article 6 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 6 as written. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #7 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

School Board Recommends $684,654.00

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 7 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 7 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #8 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR TRANSPORTATION AND BUSES.

School Board Recommends $1,040,747.00

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 8 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 8 as written. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #9 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR FACILITIES MAINTENANCE.

School Board Recommends $2,154,864.00

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 9 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 9 as written. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #10 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR DEBT SERVICE AND OTHER COMMITMENTS.

School Board Recommends $368,750.00

Upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 10 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 10 as written. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #11 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND FOR ALL OTHER EXPENSES.

School Board Recommends $0.00

Upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 11 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 11 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #12 To see what sum the Regional School will appropriate for the total cost of funding public education from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act and to see what sum the Regional School Unit will raise and assess as each municipality’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act in accordance with the Maine Revised Statues, Title 20-A, section 15688.

Recommends Amounts set forth below:

Total Appropriated (by municipality):                    Total raised (and Regional School

                                                                                 Unit assessments by municipality):

Town of:                                                                 Town of:

Anson:                     $4,619,965.59                 Anson:               $1,085,238.66

Embden:                  $1,293,354.14                 Embden:            $1,293,354.14

New Portland:           $927,199.08                     New Portland:          $601,427.00

Solon:                  $1,596,233.55                     Solon:                          $717,497.66

Total Appropriated   $8,436,752.36                 Total Raised:       $3,697,517.46

(Sum of above)      ____________                    (Sum of above) ____________

Explanation:  The Regional School Unit’s contribution to the total cost of funding public education from PreK to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act is the amount of money determined by state law to be the minimum amount that Regional School Unit must raise and assess in order to receive the full amount of state dollars.

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by Elaine Aloes the residents voted to approve article 12 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 12 as written. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #13 (WRITTEN BALLOT REQUIRED) TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE IN ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS (RECOMMENDED $3,311,480.00), WHICH EXCEEDS THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALLOCATION MODEL BY (RECOMMEND $3,311,480.00) AS REQUIRED TO FUND THE BUDGET RECOMMENDED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THE SCHOOL BOARD RECOMMENDS $3,311,480.00, WHICH EXCEEDS THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ALLOCATION MODEL BY $3,311,480.00: THE SCHOOL BOARD GIVES THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR EXCEEDING THE STATE’S ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING MODEL:  THIS AMOUNT IS NEEDED TO COVER COSTS OF THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT SCHOOLS THAT THE STATE’S FUNDING MODEL DOES NOT RECOGNIZE INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING: 1) COSTS OF MAINTAINING STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS, 2) COSTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMING, 3) COSTS OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS, AND 4) TRANSPORTATION COSTS.

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela it was voted to move article 13 in the amount of $3,311,480.00.

After discussion upon motion by Elaine Aloes and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve the amended amount of $3,161,480.00 on article 13.

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted by written ballot 25 yes and 0 no, by majority the motion passes. Motion passed.

 ARTICLE #14 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL AUTHORIZE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO EXPEND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2024 AND ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 FROM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE TOTAL COST OF FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION FROM PREK TO GRADE 12 AS DESCRIBED IN THE ESSENTIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FUNDING ACT, NON-STATE-FUNDED SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, ADDITIONAL LOCAL FUNDS FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES UNDER THE MAINE REVISED STATUES, TITLE 20-A, SECTION 15690, UNEXPENDED BALANCES, TUITION RECEIPTS, STATE SUBSIDY AND OTHER RECEIPTS FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.

School Board Recommends $12,632,604.00

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 14 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 14 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #15 TO SEE WHAT SUM THE REGIONAL SCHOOL UNIT WILL RAISE AND APPROPRIATE FOR THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM WITH AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND ANY ADDITIONAL, INCIDENTAL, OR MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS IN THE INTEREST AND FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM.

School Board Recommends $10,000.00

Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 15 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 15 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #16 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND UP TO $50,000.00 FROM THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT CAPITAL RESERVE FUND DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR FOR UNANTICIPATED OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COSTS?

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by Mitch Quint the residents voted to approve article 16 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 16 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #17 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND UP TO $50,000.00 FROM THE ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL RESERVE FUND DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR FOR ACADEMIC INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS?

Upon motion by David Ela and seconded by Chris Roux the residents voted to approve article 17 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 17 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #18 IN ADDITION TO AMOUNTS APPROVED IN THE PRECEDING ARTICLES, SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO EXPEND SUCH OTHER SUMS AS MAY BE RECEIVED FROM FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS OR PROGRAMS OR OTHER SOURCES DURING THE FISCAL YEAR FOR SCHOOL AND OTHER PROGRAM PURPOSES, PROVIDED THAT SUCH GRANTS, PROGRAMS OR OTHER SOURCES DO NOT REQUIRE THE EXPENDITURE OF OTHER FUNDS NOT PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED?

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by Mitch Quint the residents voted to approve article 18 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 18 as written. Motion passed.

ARTICLE #19 SHALL THE SCHOOL BOARD BE AUTHORIZED TO TRANSFER AMOUNTS EXCEEDING 5% OF THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR ANY COST CENTER TO ANOTHER COST CENTER OR AMONG OTHER COST CENTERS FOR THE 2024-2025 FISCAL YEAR, PROVIDED THAT TRANSFERS SHALL NOT BE PERMITTED TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED TOTAL SCHOOL BUDGET?

Upon motion by Chris Roux and seconded by David Ela the residents voted to approve article 19 as printed. The residents voted by majority of hands in the affirmative to approve article 19 as written. Motion passed.

The Moderator declared the meeting adjourned at 6:37 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________________

Mark Campbell

Superintendent