Board authorizes club volleyball pilot, hires and summer capital projects
May 28, 2024 | RSU 26, School Districts, Maine
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The RSU 26 school board unanimously approved several operational actions: the district will begin a club‑style volleyball program next year and purchase competition‑quality nets, the board authorized hiring steps for a part‑time wellness coordinator position, approved a year‑to‑year Desmos subscription as the middle‑school math resource and authorized summer capital contracts for an English‑wing classroom refresh and ASSA grade‑1/2 bathroom upgrades.
On athletics, administrators said 13 students had expressed interest in volleyball next year and recommended starting as a club team to test sustained demand. Mike Archer (staff) discussed equipment options and storage constraints; the board voted to authorize purchasing competition nets and creating a club team. "If we try it and it doesn't work out, so be it," a board member said, while others cautioned about impacts on JV/varsity numbers for soccer and field hockey.
On staffing, the board approved a part‑time wellness coordinator position included in the adopted budget and authorized administration to proceed with hiring. The board also approved a superintendent recommendation to enter into a contract for an OHS math teacher nomination (transcript records the nomination as Ethan Graff and the contract authorization language referenced Ethan Knapp; the board recorded authorization to enter a contract and approved it 5–0).
For instructional materials, the board authorized a Desmos (Amplify) middle‑school Algebra 1 subscription at roughly $15 per student per year (estimated ~$2,500 annually), which staff described as lower recurring cost vs a large one‑time print purchase.
Facilities work authorized for summer included an English‑wing refresh at the high school (Hardy Construction quote ~$192,000; authorized not to exceed $200,000) and ASSA grade‑1/2 bathroom upgrades (Hardy quote ~$42,021; authorized not to exceed $45,000). The board also discussed soccer field lights planning‑board steps and playground funding; playground work remains on hold pending partner matching funds.
On athletics, administrators said 13 students had expressed interest in volleyball next year and recommended starting as a club team to test sustained demand. Mike Archer (staff) discussed equipment options and storage constraints; the board voted to authorize purchasing competition nets and creating a club team. "If we try it and it doesn't work out, so be it," a board member said, while others cautioned about impacts on JV/varsity numbers for soccer and field hockey.
On staffing, the board approved a part‑time wellness coordinator position included in the adopted budget and authorized administration to proceed with hiring. The board also approved a superintendent recommendation to enter into a contract for an OHS math teacher nomination (transcript records the nomination as Ethan Graff and the contract authorization language referenced Ethan Knapp; the board recorded authorization to enter a contract and approved it 5–0).
For instructional materials, the board authorized a Desmos (Amplify) middle‑school Algebra 1 subscription at roughly $15 per student per year (estimated ~$2,500 annually), which staff described as lower recurring cost vs a large one‑time print purchase.
Facilities work authorized for summer included an English‑wing refresh at the high school (Hardy Construction quote ~$192,000; authorized not to exceed $200,000) and ASSA grade‑1/2 bathroom upgrades (Hardy quote ~$42,021; authorized not to exceed $45,000). The board also discussed soccer field lights planning‑board steps and playground funding; playground work remains on hold pending partner matching funds.
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