Just a reminder: the U-32 Board will host a school budget forum on Wednesday, December 20th, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We will briefly share background information and our current thinking before we ask your reactions to next year's budget, which -- be forewarned -- is a bear. We hope you can join us or share your questions and comments with us by email, over the phone, or in person.

Also on our agenda for the 20th: the climax of two-and-a-half years of blood, sweat, and toil lavished on Act 46, the state's initiative to consolidate school boards and districts. Our five-town proposal to keep our current system is due at the Agency of Education on 12/26. The five-town consensus is to keep what we've got now, in large part because consolidation would cost Calais and Worcester big money: roughly $4 million over 15 years. Nobody thinks this is fair. But a lot of people still like the idea of consolidation. The debate has split our school boards down the middle. It took a lot of effort to pull together a proposal that all five town boards could agree to live with. If U-32 board members vote to join the five-town consensus, this proposal will be greatly strengthened. If they vote not to support it, the state may feel more free to impose consolidation on us in 2019. It's a pretty big deal.

But most important of all: the U-32 School Board would like to wish you and your loved ones a healthy and happy holiday season!

Jan 27, 2025, 6 to 8 PM

Jan 30, 2025, 5 to 7:30 PM

Feb 1, 2025, 9 to 11 AM