Series of 2017 budget and construction meetings set for later in the spring

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

MILO — From late May through the end of June, SAD 41 officials are looking to hold several meetings. In addition to sessions as part of the process to approve the 2016-17 district budget there will also be meetings on a construction project for SAD 41 schools.

During an April 6 school board meeting, Superintendent Michael Wright said the first meeting on the construction project will likely be held on Wednesday, May 25 at the Penquis Valley School. “Then in June you would have a regular board meeting where we would look to have the budget approved for fiscal year 2017,” Wright told the directors, with this item likely being part of the agenda for the board’s regular meeting on the first Wednesday of the month.

Wright said in early June the AOS 43 directors would vote on this spending plan to set up the annual district budget meeting for June 21. The budget approved on June 21 would then go out to a referendum on June 28.

The superintendent said the district is looking to hold a second construction meeting on June 29. For the last several months, the board’s capital improvement committee has been meeting to look at the long-term future for the district facilities. A concept being explored is a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 facility on the current Penquis Valley campus.

The next meeting of the capital improvement committee will be on Wednesday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. prior to the regular board session at Penquis Valley. Board Chair Arthur Herbest encouraged the entire board to attend — the meeting is open to the public — in order for them to have a full understanding of the proposed project to inform their constituent about the construction project.

In other business, Assistant Superintendent Stacy Shorey said she will be resigning from her position at the end of the current academic year. “It’s with bittersweet emotion,” she said. “I have been hired to be the new superintendent for RSU 68.”

Wright said he was sorry to see Shorey departing, but is happy for her and wishes Shorey well. He said Shorey’s resignation will be formally voted on by the AOS 43 directors.

Shorey has worked in SAD 41 for nearly five years. In January 2013 she became the assistant superintendent of AOS 43, overseeing curriculum, instruction and assessment between the school unit’s two districts.

In RSU 68 Shorey will be leading the pre-K to grade 8 school district based in Dover-Foxcroft, the community she resides in and where her husband Arnold is the head of school for Foxcroft Academy.

Penquis Valley Principal Jeremy Bousquet reported to the board about a “Day of Service” planned for April 15. “Every single one of our grades will be going to something in our towns,” he said with projects including work at the Veterans’ Memorial Park, Harris Field, the boat landing, Three Rivers Kiwanis property and more.

“It should be a pretty impactful way for us to give back to the community that has given so much to us,” Bousquet said. He said the Three Rivers Kiwanis has funded 500 T-shirts to commemorate the Day of Service.

“I do want to congratulate you, it’s a great opportunity to get them out on that community service day,” Herbest told Bousquet.

The school board also approved the appointment of Jason Mills as athletic director at Penquis Valley. Mills will be succeeding the retiring Tony Hamlin.