Residents urge RSU 40/MSAD 40 board to boost outreach and recapture students ahead of bond vote

Two residents used the public‑comment period to press the board on community outreach and enrollment.

Tori Delisle identified herself as a parent from Wellsboro and said she believes the district has a "marketing problem" and cited an estimate of about 2,200 school‑age children in the district with roughly 600 not enrolled. Delisle suggested a grassroots effort to recapture students and noted that recovering just roughly 152 full‑time equivalent students would materially offset the district’s budget shortfall.

Amy Smith, a parent from Waldenborough, thanked the board for its work and said the district must communicate the bond and budget inside a broader vision to avoid the impression the warrant article is a standalone "rescue boat." She urged more intentional outreach and said the videos and presentation materials were helpful but that the district needs consistent messaging across towns and channels.

The board and staff responded by noting outreach plans: the presentation and videos will be posted on the district website and shared through ParentSquare and social channels, and trustees were urged to appear at select‑board meetings to answer questions for voters.

The speakers’ enrollment figures were presented as estimates during public comment and were not offered as official district enrollment counts; board members asked staff to include clear explanatory language when distributing materials.