Students return to classroom soon

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — With students at the SeDoMoCha School starting classes on Tuesday, Aug. 30, the RSU 68 boards of directors met on Aug. 2 where they learned of the preparations being made for the new academic year.

“Summer school’s going awesome, the kids are great,” Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey said, as he mentioned these pupils have demonstrated outstanding behavior and attendance and have worked hard.

“We are looking forward to continuing this, these nine students have a heads up on the school year,” Shorey said. He also thanked SeDoMoCha Principal Julie Kimball for spearheading the program.

District and Foxcroft Academy officials worked to develop a multiple-week, day-long program for students who may have been in need of assistance for their freshman year at the secondary school — to avoid a possible grade 8 retention. Foxcroft Academy provided transportation for instruction at the school’s campus. The $17,000-plus costs were split between Foxcroft Academy and RSU 68.

Shorey said a campaign has begun to raise $25,000 for a swimming scoreboard at the Piscataquis Regional YMCA, where the Pony swim teams compete and practice. “The scoreboard has not operated for over 15 years, it’s time,” Shorey said, as stop watches are needed for swim meets.

He said the Foxcroft swim team has over 40 members — boys and girls — making it one of the school’s larger athletic offerings. The school will reach out to past pool Ponies in the fund-raising efforts aimed to have a scoreboard in operation for the 2016-17 season.

SeDoMoCha Middle School Eagle fall athletes will have their coaches in place when practices start next month. The school board approved the appointment of David Murray as the boys soccer coach, Alexis Coleman for girls soccer, Tom Sands to lead the football team with Seth Sands as the assistant and Amy Fagan-Cannon will be the cross country coach. The field hockey position is still to be filled.

The school board meeting was the first for new superintendent Stacy Shorey. Board Chair Rick Johnston began the session by saying he wanted to take the opportunity to welcome Shorey. “We are very happy to have her as our superintendent,” he said.