MSAD #4

Transition Committee

Letter from the superintendent

 Transition Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes

  District Transition Committee

Dear Transition Committee Members,

Last month the revenue outlook for the near future in SAD #4 was extremely bleak.  At that time, a restructuring proposal was put forward to the SAD #4 Board of Directors that called for transferring Grade 8 to PCHS in 2010 and closing the McKusick School. While the situation is certainly far from wonderful, several factors in recent days appear to have eased the situation somewhat.  A combination of possible federal stimulus money, a known balance forward from 2008, and an adjustment made to our state subsidy have combined to, quite likely; lessen the urgency to move Grade 8 next year.

 
We will not be certain of the magnitude of the revenue woes until we receive solid state subsidy figures from the State – which will probably not happen until late March or early April.

I do not believe that any of this lessens the need for the District to close the McKusick School in order to deliver the best programs possible for our students.  Dropping enrollment, depleted state revenues, ever-increasing state and federal mandates, and loss of local businesses all have a dramatic affect on the ability to raise appropriate funds for schools.  We need to be pro-active about how we do business in the future.
 

We have formed an Ad Hoc Transition Committee to study the various options and work on restructuring issues.  This committee is a working group, advisory in nature, and will no doubt change in make up and focus over time as we progress.  The meetings are certainly open to anyone and everyone will have a chance for input along the way.  Agendas and minutes will be posted on the District website.

The very first matter at hand for the committee is to lay out the pros and cons of transitioning the 8th Grade to PCHS.  The group will meet twice next week and will report to the Board of Directors on Tuesday March 10th.  While I believe that the general consensus is that it would be best to delay the student move for a year, the group will still need to be poised to accelerate the work should they need to.  Once that piece is stabilized, the group will need to broaden their focus to include Pre-K through Grade 12.

We must face the fiscal realities head on but, if we have the opportunity to use a bit more time in planning and implementation, with all stakeholders involved, better decisions will likely result.

Paul Stearns

SAD #4 Superintendent of Schools