School is in session for RSU 68

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Students in RSU 68 had been attending classes for a week at the SeDoMoCha School for elementary and middle school and at Foxcroft Academy for high school when the school board heard updates on the start of the 2019-20 academic year during a Sept. 3 directors meeting at the SeDoMoCha School.

“It has been a real smooth transition from summer to school,” SeDoMoCha Principal Adam Gudroe said, mentioning a year ago the parking lot was still being worked on with a new traffic pattern being set up and he and Assistant Principal Andrew Shaw were both new to the district.

“Our enrollment numbers to start 2019-20, we are right at 698 total,” Gudroe said. “There are 346 in the middle school and 352 in the elementary school.” He explained the middle school pupil count is very high, with over 100 students in grade 7.

Gudroe said about 110 students in grades 6-8 are taking part in a fall sport, with a few more fifth-graders running cross country. He said there is also an outdoor explorers club and an intramural program.

“And we are super excited to have our resource officer herre full time with Foxcroft Academy,” the principal said. Gudroe said “Officer Pete” Dennis has helped bridge the gap between students and law enforcement and he has provided support for the faculty.

“We started our 197th year with 396 students, 313 are from the RSU 68 and 54 are in the boarding program,” Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey said with the school having several dozen students from other communities. He said the boarding enrollment is down compared to recent years, but several more students are in the process of applying to the secondary school which could bring the count to around 60.

“We are looking to have a May 1, 2020 groundbreaking for the fieldhouse,” Shorey said. He said school officials would be touring the athletic facilities at Bates College in Lewiston to learn more about the playing surfaces there, as the Foxcroft Academy building could have removable turf to allow for more activities inside.

“We are doing our due diligence to make sure this building will do all we need it to do,” Shorey said.

RSU 68 Superintendent Stacy Shorey said seven teachers have had classroom equipment paid for through DonorsChoose.org, a website enabling interested browsers to contribute to educator requests. “We have been funded for just over $6,000 in the last year,” she said.

She said grade 6 social studies teacher Chris Miller now has a kayak and GoPro and art teacher Bobbi Tardif recently received a pottery wheel.

The school board appointed John Cornett as the boys A soccer head coach, to formally fill the last open position for the current athletic season.